A general equilibrium model of heterogeneous local property taxes

A formal model of an economy consisting of many production centres, each of which levies property taxes at a different rate, is developed and analyzed. In the context of the model, it is shown that holders of capital may have either a positive or negative willingness to pay for a heterogenous system of taxes relative to a uniform tax which raises the same revenue. Particular emphasis is placed on interpretation of the ‘new view’ of the property tax in light of this and other results which derive from the model.