New Dynamic Public Finance: A User's Guide [with Comments and Discussion]

This paper reviews recent advances in the theory of optimal policy in a dynamic Mirrlees setting, and contrasts this approach to the one based on the representative-agent Ramsey framework. We revisit three classical issues and focus on insights and results that contrast with those from the Ramsey approach. In particular, we illustrate, using a simple two period economy, the implications for capital taxation, tax smoothing, and time inconsistency.