Working Paper: NBER ID: w20738
Authors: John Beshears; James J. Choi; David Laibson; Brigitte C. Madrian
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, but withdrawals 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.
Keywords: Roth 401(k); savings; taxation; retirement; behavioral economics
JEL Codes: D03; D14; G02; H2; H3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| employee confusion regarding tax implications (H26) | total 401(k) contribution rates (G59) |
| neglect of tax properties and partition dependence (H24) | total 401(k) contribution rates (G59) |
| Roth introduction (Y20) | total 401(k) contribution rates (G59) |
| Roth introduction (Y20) | retirement consumption via 401(k) (D14) |