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In this paper we set up a simple two-type optimal nonlinear income tax model where the single-crossing condition is violated, and we characterize the properties of a second-best optimum by considering the entire second-best Pareto frontier. The violation of single-crossing is generated by the assumption that agents dier both in terms of market abilities and in terms of their needs for a work-related good. Our analysis highlights several non-standard features of a second-best optimum. In particular, we show that a nonlinear income tax may allow the government to convert a pooling laissez-faire equilibrium into a separating equilibrium, that the second-best Pareto frontier may be discontinuous, and that a second-best optimum may not preserve the income ranking prevailing under laissez-faire. Finally, we also show that at a second-best optimum the labor supply of some agents might be distorted even though no self-selection constraint is (locally) binding in equilibrium.

ABSTRACT Questo paper discute l’uso delle fonti estimative per rappresentare la diseguaglianza economica all’interno di alcune aree urbane della Lombardia, del Piemonte e della Toscana. In particolare si sofferma sulla natura delle fonti estimative, sulla loro evoluzione nel tempo e sul mutare del concetto di ricchezza sotteso al modificarsi degli stessi processi estimativi. Grazie all’analisi di lungo periodo e alla comparazione tra diverse realtà urbane sarà possibile discutere i processi di continuità e di frattura sia nella capacità degli organi di governo locale nel definire la facoltà dei singoli, sia nel mutare del concetto stesso di ricchezza nel tempo e nello spazio. Pur adottando una rigorosa critica delle fonti, il paper dimostra che le fonti estimative d’età preindustriale sono degli ottimi strumenti per ricostruire il trend della diseguaglianza economica in area urbana, soggetti a margini d’errore non dissimili alle fonti statistiche attuali.

This paper investigates the effect of using mobile money technology on children’s school participation in low-income societies. We argue that, by reducing transaction costs, and by making it easier and less expensive to receive remittances, mobile money technology reduces the need for coping strategies that are detrimental to child development, such as withdrawing children from school and sending them to work. We test this hypothesis using a set of comparative samples from seven low-income countries. We find that mobile money technology increases the chances of children attending school. This finding is robust to the use of estimation techniques that deal with possible endogeneity issues. We also show that the effect of mobile money is mainly driven by African countries and that, at least for girls, it is significantly higher when the household is living below the poverty line.