Pedro Teles

Northwestern University, Banco de Portugal

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Pedro Teles is a prominent macroeconomist whose research sits at the intersection of optimal taxation, income inequality, and the economics of technological change. He is perhaps best known for his thought-provoking work on automation and fiscal policy, most notably the influential paper "Should Robots Be Taxed?" — a question that has taken on urgent relevance in an era of rapid technological disruption. Using a sophisticated quantitative model incorporating technical progress in automation and endogenous skill choice, Teles and his collaborators demonstrate that sustained declines in automation costs can precipitate dramatic rises in income inequality under the current U.S. tax framework. Crucially, they go beyond diagnosis to characterize an *optimal* tax system capable of addressing these distributional consequences. This work, which has accumulated nearly 40 citations across its iterations, has positioned Teles as an important voice in policy debates surrounding the future of work, labor markets, and redistribution. His research offers valuable guidance for students and policymakers grappling with how governments should respond to the growing economic power of automation and artificial intelligence.