119. In 2010 the federal government reduced the Social Security tax withholding rate from 12.4 percent
(6.2 percent on both the employer and employee) to 8.4 percent (4.2 percent on both the employer and
employee) on the wages of all workers. If the supply of labor is relatively inelastic when compared to
the elasticity of the demand for labor, the burden of this tax will
continue to fall primarily on employees.
continue to fall primarily on employers.
be divided equally between employees and employers.
change from primarily falling on employees to employers.
120. In 2010 the federal government reduced the Social Security tax withholding rate from 12.4 percent
(6.2 percent on both the employer and employee) to 8.4 percent (4.2 percent on both the employer and
employee) on the wages of all workers. If the tax were redefined such that the entire 12.4 percent was
statutorily levied on employers, economic analysis suggests that the actual burden of the tax would
shift more heavily toward employers.
shift more heavily toward employees.
be different than if the entire 12.4 percent was statutorily imposed on employees.
121. Studies indicate the demand for cigarettes is highly inelastic, while the demand for green peas tends to
be elastic. Other things constant, how will this affect the incidence of an excise tax on these products?
Consumers will tend to bear a greater share of the burden of an excise tax on cigarettes
than of an excise tax on peas.
Consumers will tend to bear a greater share of the burden of an excise tax on peas than of
an excise tax on cigarettes.
Producers will bear a greater share of the burden of an excise tax on cigarettes than of an
excise tax on peas.
Uncertain; elasticity of demand exerts no impact on how the burden of an excise tax is
distributed between consumers and producers.
122. A tax is levied on products A and B, both of which have the same price elasticity of supply. The
demand for A is more inelastic than is the demand for B. Other things constant, how will this affect the
incidence of an excise tax on these products?
Producers will bear a smaller share (and consumers a larger share) of the tax burden on A
than B.
Consumers will bear a smaller share (and producers a larger share) of the tax burden on A
than B.
The deadweight loss (or excess burden) will be larger for good A than B.
All of the above are true.