UCLA

This dissertation is comprised of a series of essays in public economics, development economics, labor economics, and behavioral economics, that provide a comprehensive illustration of the core of my research agenda. In the first paper, Ifocus on the transfer side of public economics. More specifically, I study the effects of a cash transfer program on individuals’ transition to adulthood. In the second and third papers, I focus on the taxation side of public economics. In the second paper, I focus on top-income earners and how they react to a change in the top personal income tax rates. Finally, in the third paper, I focus on how individuals make their tax compliance decisions, in particular, in the role of tax morale mechanisms. Collectively, this series of essays contribute to building our understanding of how individuals interact with tax and transfer policies. Empirical evidence on these interactions are key inputs for the discussion of optimal policy design.