Feng Wei

Department of Economics Last updated: January 17, 2019

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive, NW Cell: +1 (403)401-3756
Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4 Email: fwei@ucalgary.ca
Canada Web: feng-wei.weebly.com
CITIZENSHIP: China, P.R.
RESEARCH INTEREST
Taxation, Public Economics and Applied Microeconomics
EDUCATION
Ph.D Economics, University of Calgary, AB Canada 2013-2019
M.A. Economics, University of Calgary, AB Canada 2011-2012
B.A. Economics, First-Class Honor University of Manitoba, MB Canada 2008-2011
REFERENCES
Dr. Jean-François Wen (Supervisor) Dr. Daniel Gordon (Committee member)
Professor Professor
Dept. Economics, University of Calgary Dept. Economics, University of Calgary
Tel: +1 (403) 220-2478 Tel: +1(403)220-5080
Email: wen@ucalgary.ca (jwen@imf.org) Email: dgordon@ucalgary.ca
Dr. Stefan Staubli
(Committee member & Placement officer)
Associate Professor
Dept. Economics, University of Calgary
Tel: +1(403)220-6180
Email: sstaubli@ucalgary.ca
Administrative Contact: Joann Weston - jweston@ucalgary.ca +1 (403)220-4091
WORKING PAPERS
“The Optimal Tax Threshold and Tax Rate for SMEs” (Job Market Paper), joint with Jean-
François Wen
Abstract: Presumptive taxes in the form of a tax on turnover for SMEs are pervasive. We analyze
a model where entrepreneurs allocate labor to the formal and informal sectors. Formal sector
income is subject either to a corporate income tax or a tax on turnover, depending on whether
the turnover exceeds a threshold. We characterize the private sector equilibrium for any given
configuration of the corporate income tax rate, the turnover tax rate, and the threshold. We
interpret the first-order conditions for welfare maximization taking into account private behavior
to identify the key margins and then simulate a calibrated version of the model.
“Corporate Tax Reform and the Labor Market in Canada”
Abstract: Many governments have pursued “competitive” corporate tax rates to attract invest-
ment. However, the distributional implications of these tax cut reforms is unclear. This paper
studies the labor market effect of the corporate income tax by exploiting a 2001 tax reform in
Canada. This reform lowered the corporate income tax rate by 25% in the sectors which were
not previously under special tax treatment, e.g., the manufacturing sector was excluded from the
tax reduction. Results from difference-in-differences regressions suggest that workers benefited
significantly from the tax reduction. Their real wage rate and working hours increased by 1.4%
and 0.7%, respectively. Consistent with Griliches’ capital-skill complementary hypothesis that
capital is more complementary with skilled labor than with unskilled labor, this paper finds that
high-educated workers benefited more from the reform compared with medium-educated or low-
educated workers.
WORK IN PROGRESS
“Flat Tax Reform and the Informal Sector”
“Threshold for Corporate and Value-Added Tax System”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Instructor:
Principles of Macroeconomics, University of Calgary 2017
Research Assistant:
Dr. Robert Oxoby 2019
Dr. Cecilia Garcia-Medina & Dr. Jean-François Wen 2015
Teaching Assistant:
Environment Economics (Graduate) 2017
Empirical Energy Economics (Undergraduate) 2015
Econometrics (Undergraduate) 2014, 2015, 2018
Microeconomic Theory (Undergraduate) 2013, 2015
Macroeconomic Theory (Undergraduate) 2013, 2016, 2017
Portfolio Theory and Management (Haskayne School of Business) 2018, 2019
Public Sector: Expenditure (Undergraduate) 2014
AWARDS & HONORS
Department of Economics Graduate Alumni Scholarship, University of Calgary 2017
Top Student in Microeconomics, University of Calgary 2014
Ph.D Graduate Scholarship, University of Calgary 2013-2018
M.A. Graduate Scholarship, University of Calgary 2012
Dean’s Honors List, University of Manitoba 2009-2011
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Economic Association (AEA), Canadian Economic Association (CEA)
OTHER SKILLS
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (Native), English (Fluent)
Computing: Matlab, Mathematica, R, Stata