Question

The country of Lessidinia has a tax system identical to that of the United States. Suppose someone in Lessidinia bought a parcel of land for 20,000 foci (the local currency) in 1960 when the price index equaled 100. In 2002, the person sold the land for 100,000 foci, and the price index equaled 600. The tax rate on nominal gains was 20 percent. Compute the taxes on the nominal gain and the change in the real value of the land in terms of 2002 prices to find the after-tax real rate of capital gain.

Answer 1

Answer: -30%

Explanation:

The Nominal gain is:

= 100,000 - 20,000

= 80,000 foci

Tax on nominal gain:

= 20% * 80,000

= 16,000 foci

After tax nominal value of land:

= 100,000  - 16,000

= 84,000 foci

The real value given the price index is:

= 84,000 / 600 * 100

= 14,000 foci

After tax real rate of cap. gain:

= (14,000 - 20,000) / 20,000

= -30%