Inflation variability across Australian households: Implications for inequality and indexation policy, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute Working Paper No. 3/2020

Authors:

Marcel van Kints & Robert Breunig

Abstract:

We examine the consumer price inflation experiences of Australian households across the income distribution using Australian Bureau of Statistics data and prices and methodology from the national consumer price index. Across the period 2011 – 2018, we find that the lowest income households have experienced the largest inflation and those at the top have experienced the least inflation. These differences in inflation experience are completely driven by alcohol and tobacco. When we remove alcohol and tobacco, we find that there is little variation in the inflation experiences of households across the income distribution.

Download the paper

 

The ATO longitudinal information files (ALife): A new resource for retirement policy research?, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute Working Paper No. 2/2020

Authors:

Cain Polidano, Andrew Carter, Marc Chan, Abraham Chigavazira, Hang To, Justin Holland, Son Nguyen, Ha Vu & Roger Wilkins

Abstract:

The Australian Taxation Office release of annual longitudinally linked individual tax and superannuation records, known as the ATO Longitudinal Information Files (ALife), opens-up opportunities for new research. In this study, we provide an overview of ALife, focusing on its use for retirement income research. To this end, we provide the first longitudinal estimates of superannuation outcomes for one-year birth cohorts. Results show marked increase in disparity of super balances in the lead-up to retirement as those in the top quartile ramp-up their contributions, possibly to take advantage of the favourable tax treatment of superannuation income in retirement years.

Download the paper

Comments are closed.