Effetti distributivi e sull'offerta di lavoro del reddito minimo di inserimento: una analisi di microsimulazione con risposte comportamentali

In this paper we analyse the redistributive and efficiency effects of the extension at the national level of the Reddito Minimo di Inserimento, introduced in 1998 in some Italian municipalities. We develop a microsimulation tax-benefit model with behavioural responses that allows for simultaneous labour supply decisions by the individuals in the household, endogenous choice between dependent employment and self-employment,complete representation of the current Italian tax-benefit system. The results show a positive impact in terms of both inequality and poverty reduction in the lower part of the distribution (first two decils), while the overall effects on labour supply tend to be negligible. Looking at the different cat egories of individuals we find that the magnitude of labour supply disincentive would be larger for singles than married people and, among couples, for women than men.