This dissertation consists of six independent essays in public economics. Chapter 1 examines the impact of foreign corporate ownership on the U.K. housing market, showing how offshore investments influence house prices and vacancy rates. Chapters 2 and 3 develop and apply theoretical frameworks to evaluate the taxation of couples, focusing on efficiency, welfare, and political economy considerations. Chapter 4 extends this analysis by incorporating stated preferences from survey data, offering insights beyond standard analyses based on material self-interest. Chapter 5 investigates the validity of hypothetical survey methods for measuring fairness preferences, comparing them to results from an incentivized experiment. Chapter 6 analyzes work-life balance policies in Germany, using quasi-experimental variation to estimate behavioral responses and welfare effects. Together, the essays offer new perspectives on multidimensional inequalities, fairness preferences, and policy instruments.