Work in Progress

Taxes and the Labor Supply of the Stars

with Abigail Peralta

Do high taxes cause superstars to work less? We study this hypothesis using complete data on Hollywood movie stars’ labor supply from 1927 to 2014. Changes in marginal tax rates in high tax brackets have no significant effect on the number of films a movie star makes each year. However, in years with high taxes stars produce more highly rated movies with award-winning directors, potentially substituting prestigious films for pecuniary gains.


Empty Auctions, Empty Homes: The Impact of Non-Entry in Foreclosure Auctions

with Jose Espin-Sanchez


The Financial Wealth of African-Americans after Slavery and its Intergenerational Impacts: Evidence from the Collapse of the Freedman's Bank

with Rick Hornbeck