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2.2 Wait and See

If the event does not occur then, as above, the tax rate in the second period is simply τ2 = b2/y2. When no action is taken in the first period, and the event does occur, the tax rate needed to finance C is denoted C/y2 so that the tax rate in the second period becomes:

      (4)

The expected value of social welfare from waiting, E (W | wait) is expressed as:

      (5)

The first line and third lines of (5) simply show the (expected) welfare that arises in each period when the event does not arise. The second line shows the (expected) social welfare in the second period as a result of financing C. Furthermore, y2 = (1 + gy) y1 y1 and b2 = (1 + gb)b1.
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