Keywords

Roth 401(k), tax salience, partition dependence

Abstract

Can governments increase private savings by taxing savings up front instead of in retirement? Roth 401(k) contributions are not tax-deductible in the contribution year, butwithdrawals in retirement are untaxed. The more common before-tax 401(k) contribution is tax-deductible in the contribution year, but both principal and investment earnings are taxed upon withdrawal. Using administrative data from eleven companies that added a Roth contribution option to their existing 401(k) plan between 2006 and 2010, we find no evidence that total 401(k) contribution rates differ between employees hired before versus after Roth introduction, which implies that take-home pay declines and the amount of retirement consumption being purchased by 401(k) contributions increases after Roth introduction. We reject several neoclassical explanations for our null finding. Results from a survey experiment suggest two behavioral explanations: (1) employee confusion about and neglect of the tax properties of Roth balances and (2) partition dependence.

Original Publication Citation

“Does Front-Loading Taxation Increase Savings? Evidence from Roth 401(k) Introductions.” 2017. Journal of Public Economics 151(July 2017): 84-95 (with John Beshears, James J. Choi and David Laibson). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2015.09.007

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017

Publisher

Journal of Public Economics

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Finance

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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