Assume that your country’s income tax structure has the following tax rates: if your income is $30,000 or less you pay no income tax; if your income is above $30,000, you pay 30 percent of the amount above $30,000. And so, for example, someone who earns $60,000 would pay 30% × ($60,000 − $30,000) = $9,000.
1. Your marginal tax rate is defined as the taxes you pay as a percent if you earn one more dollar. Your average tax rate is defined as the total taxes you pay divided by your income. And so, to continue with this example, someone who earns $60,000 would have a marginal tax rate of 30 percent and an average tax rate of $9,000/$60,000 = 15%.
2. You have three alternatives. You could not work at all, you could work half time, or you could work full-time. If you do not work at all, you will earn $0; if you work half-time you will earn $30,000; and if you work full-time, you will earn $60,000. Any time you do not work, you can spend surfing. You love to surf: surfing full-time is worth $50,000 per year to you, surfing halftime is worth $25,000 per year to you, and not surfing at all is worth nothing to you. As you are making your decision about how much to work, should you pay attention to your average tax rate or to your marginal tax rate? Explain your answer carefully.