Características distributivas, presupuestos familiares y el impacto distributivo de las tarifas públicas

Abstract

This paper deals with the question of which is the relevant parameter to introduce equity considerations in public enterprise prices (or taxes on goods). Two parameters are compared: the "distributional characteristics of goods" – the parameter which has theoretical foundation – versus the "burden on the budget of low income families" – the parameter which is frequently used; it can originate distortions and have different effects from those which emerge from the distributional aim. The empirical relevance of the distinction – for Argentina – is afterwards analyzed.