Liam Murphy and Thomas Nagel
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195150162
- eISBN:
- 9780199833924
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195150163.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Theory
In a capitalist economy, taxes are the most significant instrument by which the political system can put into practice a conception of economic justice. But conventional ideas about what constitutes ...
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In a capitalist economy, taxes are the most significant instrument by which the political system can put into practice a conception of economic justice. But conventional ideas about what constitutes tax fairness--found in the vigorous debates about tax policy going on in political and public policy circles, in economics and law--are misguided. In particular, the emphasis on distributing the tax burden relative to pretax income is a fundamental mistake. Taxation does not take from people what they already own. Property rights are the product of a set of laws and conventions, of which the tax system forms a central part, so the fairness of taxes can’t be evaluated by their impact on preexisting entitlements. Pretax income has no independent moral significance. Standards of justice should be applied not to the distribution of tax burdens but to the operation and results of the entire framework of economic institutions. The result is an entirely different understanding of a host of controversial issues, such as the estate tax, the tax treatment of marriage, “flat” versus progressive taxes, consumption versus income taxes, tax cuts for the wealthy, and negative income taxes for the poor.Less
In a capitalist economy, taxes are the most significant instrument by which the political system can put into practice a conception of economic justice. But conventional ideas about what constitutes tax fairness--found in the vigorous debates about tax policy going on in political and public policy circles, in economics and law--are misguided. In particular, the emphasis on distributing the tax burden relative to pretax income is a fundamental mistake. Taxation does not take from people what they already own. Property rights are the product of a set of laws and conventions, of which the tax system forms a central part, so the fairness of taxes can’t be evaluated by their impact on preexisting entitlements. Pretax income has no independent moral significance. Standards of justice should be applied not to the distribution of tax burdens but to the operation and results of the entire framework of economic institutions. The result is an entirely different understanding of a host of controversial issues, such as the estate tax, the tax treatment of marriage, “flat” versus progressive taxes, consumption versus income taxes, tax cuts for the wealthy, and negative income taxes for the poor.
Alasdair Roberts
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195374988
- eISBN:
- 9780199776849
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195374988.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics
The era of economic liberalization, spanning 1978 to 2008, is often regarded as a period in which government was simply dismantled. In fact, government was reconstructed to meet the needs of a ...
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The era of economic liberalization, spanning 1978 to 2008, is often regarded as a period in which government was simply dismantled. In fact, government was reconstructed to meet the needs of a globalized economy. Central banking, fiscal control, tax collection, regulation, port and airport management, infrastructure development—in all of these areas, radical reforms were made to the architecture of government. A common philosophy shaped all of these reforms: the logic of discipline. It was premised on deep skepticism about the ability of democratic processes to make sensible policy choices. It sought to impose constraints on elected officials and citizens, often by shifting power to technocrat-guardians who were shielded from political influence. It placed great faith in the power of legal changes—new laws, treaties, and contracts—to produce significant alterations in the performance of governmental systems. Even before the global economic crisis of 2007-2009, the logic of discipline was under assault. Faced with many failed reform projects, advocates of discipline realized that they had underestimated the complexity of governmental change. Opponents of discipline emphasized the damage to democratic values that followed from the empowerment of new groups of technocrat-guardians. The financial crisis did further damage to the logic of discipline, as governments modified their attitudes about central bank independence and fiscal control, and global financial and trade flows declined. It was the market that now appeared to behave myopically and erratically, and which now insisted that governments should abandon precepts about the role of government that it had once insisted were inviolable. An account of neoliberal governmental restructuring across the world, The Logic of Discipline offers an analysis of how this undemocratic model is unravelling in the face of a monumental and ongoing failure of the market.Less
The era of economic liberalization, spanning 1978 to 2008, is often regarded as a period in which government was simply dismantled. In fact, government was reconstructed to meet the needs of a globalized economy. Central banking, fiscal control, tax collection, regulation, port and airport management, infrastructure development—in all of these areas, radical reforms were made to the architecture of government. A common philosophy shaped all of these reforms: the logic of discipline. It was premised on deep skepticism about the ability of democratic processes to make sensible policy choices. It sought to impose constraints on elected officials and citizens, often by shifting power to technocrat-guardians who were shielded from political influence. It placed great faith in the power of legal changes—new laws, treaties, and contracts—to produce significant alterations in the performance of governmental systems. Even before the global economic crisis of 2007-2009, the logic of discipline was under assault. Faced with many failed reform projects, advocates of discipline realized that they had underestimated the complexity of governmental change. Opponents of discipline emphasized the damage to democratic values that followed from the empowerment of new groups of technocrat-guardians. The financial crisis did further damage to the logic of discipline, as governments modified their attitudes about central bank independence and fiscal control, and global financial and trade flows declined. It was the market that now appeared to behave myopically and erratically, and which now insisted that governments should abandon precepts about the role of government that it had once insisted were inviolable. An account of neoliberal governmental restructuring across the world, The Logic of Discipline offers an analysis of how this undemocratic model is unravelling in the face of a monumental and ongoing failure of the market.
Dale W. Jorgenson and Kun-Young Yun
- Published in print:
- 1991
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198285939
- eISBN:
- 9780191596490
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198285930.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
The concept of ‘cost of capital’ was introduced almost thirty years ago and quickly became an indispensable tool for modelling the impact of tax policy on investment behaviour. In the 1980s it ...
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The concept of ‘cost of capital’ was introduced almost thirty years ago and quickly became an indispensable tool for modelling the impact of tax policy on investment behaviour. In the 1980s it assumed a central role in tax reform debates through the closely related concept of the marginal effective tax rate. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the cost of capital approach to tax policy analysis. In order to make the approach as accessible as possible, the analytical level of the book has been kept to an absolute minimum. The complexities are introduced in a step-by-step fashion, leading up to a representation of tax systems for capital income that is suitable for tax policy analysis. The success of the cost of capital approach is due in large part to its ability to assimilate a virtually unlimited amount of descriptive detail on alternative tax policies. In order to provide guidance to students and practitioners, the book contains a full implementation of the approach for the USA, including an analysis of the alternative proposals that culminated in the highly influential Tax Reform Act of 1986. The chapters of the book are the first in a series of Lectures in Monetary and Fiscal Policy given at Uppsala University in honour of Erik Lindahl, the Swedish economist who was a professor there from 1942 to 1958.Less
The concept of ‘cost of capital’ was introduced almost thirty years ago and quickly became an indispensable tool for modelling the impact of tax policy on investment behaviour. In the 1980s it assumed a central role in tax reform debates through the closely related concept of the marginal effective tax rate. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the cost of capital approach to tax policy analysis. In order to make the approach as accessible as possible, the analytical level of the book has been kept to an absolute minimum. The complexities are introduced in a step-by-step fashion, leading up to a representation of tax systems for capital income that is suitable for tax policy analysis. The success of the cost of capital approach is due in large part to its ability to assimilate a virtually unlimited amount of descriptive detail on alternative tax policies. In order to provide guidance to students and practitioners, the book contains a full implementation of the approach for the USA, including an analysis of the alternative proposals that culminated in the highly influential Tax Reform Act of 1986. The chapters of the book are the first in a series of Lectures in Monetary and Fiscal Policy given at Uppsala University in honour of Erik Lindahl, the Swedish economist who was a professor there from 1942 to 1958.
Steven A. Bank
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195326192
- eISBN:
- 9780199775811
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326192.001.0001
- Subject:
- Law, Legal History
The U.S. corporate income tax — and in particular the double taxation of corporate income — has long been one of the most criticized and stubbornly persistent aspects of the federal revenue system. ...
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The U.S. corporate income tax — and in particular the double taxation of corporate income — has long been one of the most criticized and stubbornly persistent aspects of the federal revenue system. Unlike in most other industrialized countries, corporate income is taxed twice, first at the entity level and again at the shareholder level when distributed as a dividend. The conventional wisdom has been that this double taxation was part of the system's original design over a century ago and has survived despite withering opposition from business interests. In both cases, history tells another tale. Double taxation as it is known today did not appear until several decades after the corporate income tax was first adopted. Moreover, it was embraced by corporate representatives at the outset and in subsequent years businesses have been far more ambivalent about its existence than is popularly assumed. From Sword to Shield: The Transformation of the Corporate Income Tax, 1861 to Present is the first historical account of the evolution of the corporate income tax in America. It explains the origins of corporate income tax and the political, economic, and social forces that transformed it from a sword against evasion of the individual income tax to a shield against government and shareholder interference with the management of corporate funds.Less
The U.S. corporate income tax — and in particular the double taxation of corporate income — has long been one of the most criticized and stubbornly persistent aspects of the federal revenue system. Unlike in most other industrialized countries, corporate income is taxed twice, first at the entity level and again at the shareholder level when distributed as a dividend. The conventional wisdom has been that this double taxation was part of the system's original design over a century ago and has survived despite withering opposition from business interests. In both cases, history tells another tale. Double taxation as it is known today did not appear until several decades after the corporate income tax was first adopted. Moreover, it was embraced by corporate representatives at the outset and in subsequent years businesses have been far more ambivalent about its existence than is popularly assumed. From Sword to Shield: The Transformation of the Corporate Income Tax, 1861 to Present is the first historical account of the evolution of the corporate income tax in America. It explains the origins of corporate income tax and the political, economic, and social forces that transformed it from a sword against evasion of the individual income tax to a shield against government and shareholder interference with the management of corporate funds.
Alfred Greiner and Willi Semmler
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195328233
- eISBN:
- 9780199869985
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195328233.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
Recently, the public attention has turned toward the intricate interrelation between economic growth and global warming. This book focuses on this nexus but broadens the framework to study the issue. ...
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Recently, the public attention has turned toward the intricate interrelation between economic growth and global warming. This book focuses on this nexus but broadens the framework to study the issue. Growth is seen as global growth, which affects the global environment and climate change. Global growth, in particular high economic growth rates, implies a fast depletion of renewable and non-renewable resources. Thus, this book deals with the impact of the environment and the effect of the exhaustive use of natural resources on economic growth and welfare of market economies, as well as the reverse linkage. It is arranged in three parts: Part I of the book discusses the environment and growth. The role of environmental pollution is integrated into modern endogenous growth models and recently developed dynamic methods and techniques are used to derive appropriate abatement activities that policymakers can institute. Part II looks at global climate change using these same growth models. Here, too, direct and transparent policy implications are provided. More specifically, tax measures, such as a carbon tax, are favored over emission trading as instruments of mitigation policies. Part III evaluates the use and overuse of renewable and non-renewable resources in the context of a variety of dynamic models. This part of the book, in particular, considers the cases when resources interact as an ecological system and analyze issues of ownership of resources as well as policy measures to avoid the overuse of resources. In addition, not only intertemporal resource allocation but also the eminent issues relating to intertemporal inequities, as well as policy measures to overcome them, are discussed in each part of the book.Less
Recently, the public attention has turned toward the intricate interrelation between economic growth and global warming. This book focuses on this nexus but broadens the framework to study the issue. Growth is seen as global growth, which affects the global environment and climate change. Global growth, in particular high economic growth rates, implies a fast depletion of renewable and non-renewable resources. Thus, this book deals with the impact of the environment and the effect of the exhaustive use of natural resources on economic growth and welfare of market economies, as well as the reverse linkage. It is arranged in three parts: Part I of the book discusses the environment and growth. The role of environmental pollution is integrated into modern endogenous growth models and recently developed dynamic methods and techniques are used to derive appropriate abatement activities that policymakers can institute. Part II looks at global climate change using these same growth models. Here, too, direct and transparent policy implications are provided. More specifically, tax measures, such as a carbon tax, are favored over emission trading as instruments of mitigation policies. Part III evaluates the use and overuse of renewable and non-renewable resources in the context of a variety of dynamic models. This part of the book, in particular, considers the cases when resources interact as an ecological system and analyze issues of ownership of resources as well as policy measures to avoid the overuse of resources. In addition, not only intertemporal resource allocation but also the eminent issues relating to intertemporal inequities, as well as policy measures to overcome them, are discussed in each part of the book.
A. B. Atkinson
- Published in print:
- 1996
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198292166
- eISBN:
- 9780191595875
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198292163.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
The book provides an introduction to the key ideas of public economics. For this purpose, it takes as a case study the proposal for a basic income financed by a flat tax on all income. This radical ...
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The book provides an introduction to the key ideas of public economics. For this purpose, it takes as a case study the proposal for a basic income financed by a flat tax on all income. This radical reform of the income tax and social security systems has generated wide interest. The book reviews different areas of public economics: the theory of optimum taxation, public choice theory, general equilibrium analysis of incidence, numerical tax‐benefit modelling, and econometric studies of work incentives. The author does not argue for or against the basic income proposal but believes that it should be on the agenda for serious discussion.Less
The book provides an introduction to the key ideas of public economics. For this purpose, it takes as a case study the proposal for a basic income financed by a flat tax on all income. This radical reform of the income tax and social security systems has generated wide interest. The book reviews different areas of public economics: the theory of optimum taxation, public choice theory, general equilibrium analysis of incidence, numerical tax‐benefit modelling, and econometric studies of work incentives. The author does not argue for or against the basic income proposal but believes that it should be on the agenda for serious discussion.
Lane Kenworthy
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199591527
- eISBN:
- 9780191731389
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199591527.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
One of the principal goals of antipoverty efforts should be to improve the absolute living standards of the least well-off. This book aims to enhance our understanding of how to do that, drawing on ...
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One of the principal goals of antipoverty efforts should be to improve the absolute living standards of the least well-off. This book aims to enhance our understanding of how to do that, drawing on the experiences of twenty affluent countries since the 1970s. The book addresses a set of questions at the heart of political economy and public policy: How much does economic growth help the poor? When and why does growth fail to trickle down? How can social policy help? Can a country have a sizeable low-wage sector yet few poor households? Are universal programs better than targeted ones? What role can public services play in antipoverty efforts? What is the best tax mix? Is more social spending better for the poor? If we commit to improvement in the absolute living standards of the least well-off, must we sacrifice other desirable outcomes?Less
One of the principal goals of antipoverty efforts should be to improve the absolute living standards of the least well-off. This book aims to enhance our understanding of how to do that, drawing on the experiences of twenty affluent countries since the 1970s. The book addresses a set of questions at the heart of political economy and public policy: How much does economic growth help the poor? When and why does growth fail to trickle down? How can social policy help? Can a country have a sizeable low-wage sector yet few poor households? Are universal programs better than targeted ones? What role can public services play in antipoverty efforts? What is the best tax mix? Is more social spending better for the poor? If we commit to improvement in the absolute living standards of the least well-off, must we sacrifice other desirable outcomes?
Roger Bagnall
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199562596
- eISBN:
- 9780191721458
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199562596.003.008
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, European History: BCE to 500CE
This chapter suggests ways in which we can utilize models to quantify agricultural economic activity in Egypt and, on the basis of the available documentation, including tax records, to build up a ...
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This chapter suggests ways in which we can utilize models to quantify agricultural economic activity in Egypt and, on the basis of the available documentation, including tax records, to build up a detailed picture of the distribution and productivity of villages landholdings in particular areas and the level of urbanization.Less
This chapter suggests ways in which we can utilize models to quantify agricultural economic activity in Egypt and, on the basis of the available documentation, including tax records, to build up a detailed picture of the distribution and productivity of villages landholdings in particular areas and the level of urbanization.
Felice Davidson Perlmutter
- Published in print:
- 1997
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195110159
- eISBN:
- 9780199865635
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195110159.001.0001
- Subject:
- Social Work, Communities and Organizations, Social Policy
Using a case example of how Pennsylvania Blue Shield trained, hired, and retained several hundred welfare recipients on its work force, this book offers a success story and a broad discussion of ...
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Using a case example of how Pennsylvania Blue Shield trained, hired, and retained several hundred welfare recipients on its work force, this book offers a success story and a broad discussion of welfare reform, public policy, and corporate social responsibility. It also offers a practical explanation of the specific steps needed to establish such a program, including corporate tax incentives, business and government collaborations, and the special needs of welfare recipients. The book demonstrates that it is possible for corporate America to combine bottom-line goals with socially responsible goals.Less
Using a case example of how Pennsylvania Blue Shield trained, hired, and retained several hundred welfare recipients on its work force, this book offers a success story and a broad discussion of welfare reform, public policy, and corporate social responsibility. It also offers a practical explanation of the specific steps needed to establish such a program, including corporate tax incentives, business and government collaborations, and the special needs of welfare recipients. The book demonstrates that it is possible for corporate America to combine bottom-line goals with socially responsible goals.
Raymond G. Batina and Toshihiro Ihori
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198297901
- eISBN:
- 9780191685361
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198297901.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Financial Economics
The purpose of this book is to introduce the substantial literature on consumption tax policy and the taxation of capital income, the early literature on optimal tax theory in dynamic overlapping ...
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The purpose of this book is to introduce the substantial literature on consumption tax policy and the taxation of capital income, the early literature on optimal tax theory in dynamic overlapping generations' models, the more recent literature on optimal taxation in the Ramsey growth model and models of endogenous growth, and the literature on taxation in open economies. The book summarises the main arguments for and against consumption taxation, presents the main theoretical and empirical results of the technical literature, and, finally, extends the literature in a number of useful ways by complicating the models used to study tax issues. These extensions include bequeathing behaviour, the time consistency problem, the capital levy, charity and privately produced public goods, environmental externalities and renewable resources, durable goods and land, and money used in exchange and as an asset. Chapters are self-contained as far as possible, and each uses a variety of models rather than just one to study the issue at hand. Models and notation are explained each time they are used.Less
The purpose of this book is to introduce the substantial literature on consumption tax policy and the taxation of capital income, the early literature on optimal tax theory in dynamic overlapping generations' models, the more recent literature on optimal taxation in the Ramsey growth model and models of endogenous growth, and the literature on taxation in open economies. The book summarises the main arguments for and against consumption taxation, presents the main theoretical and empirical results of the technical literature, and, finally, extends the literature in a number of useful ways by complicating the models used to study tax issues. These extensions include bequeathing behaviour, the time consistency problem, the capital levy, charity and privately produced public goods, environmental externalities and renewable resources, durable goods and land, and money used in exchange and as an asset. Chapters are self-contained as far as possible, and each uses a variety of models rather than just one to study the issue at hand. Models and notation are explained each time they are used.
Agnar Sandmo
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198297987
- eISBN:
- 9780191596858
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019829798X.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
The book is an application of the modern theory of public economics to central issues in the design of environmental policy. Ch. 1 reviews the basic issues in a simple partial equilibrium framework. ...
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The book is an application of the modern theory of public economics to central issues in the design of environmental policy. Ch. 1 reviews the basic issues in a simple partial equilibrium framework. In Ch. 2, the environment is incorporated in a general equilibrium framework, emphasizing the perspective on the environment as a public good and the use of taxes as a means of correcting market failure. Ch. 3 analyses policies that are alternatives to taxes, such as regulations and quotas, and Ch. 4 reviews alternative methods of assessing the social benefits from environmental policies. Ch. 5 sets the design of environmental taxes in the framework of optimal tax theory and makes clear the need to see such taxes as parts of the overall tax system. Ch. 6 is concerned with various notions of the double dividend from green taxes and raises the issue of whether environmental taxes lower the marginal cost of public funds. Finally, Ch. 7 takes up international and political economy aspects of environmental policy.Less
The book is an application of the modern theory of public economics to central issues in the design of environmental policy. Ch. 1 reviews the basic issues in a simple partial equilibrium framework. In Ch. 2, the environment is incorporated in a general equilibrium framework, emphasizing the perspective on the environment as a public good and the use of taxes as a means of correcting market failure. Ch. 3 analyses policies that are alternatives to taxes, such as regulations and quotas, and Ch. 4 reviews alternative methods of assessing the social benefits from environmental policies. Ch. 5 sets the design of environmental taxes in the framework of optimal tax theory and makes clear the need to see such taxes as parts of the overall tax system. Ch. 6 is concerned with various notions of the double dividend from green taxes and raises the issue of whether environmental taxes lower the marginal cost of public funds. Finally, Ch. 7 takes up international and political economy aspects of environmental policy.
Fred Campano and Dominick Salvatore
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- May 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780195300918
- eISBN:
- 9780199783441
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195300912.003.0012
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
This chapter focuses on the role of the government in ensuring basic needs and how that may be managed through income taxes and public expenditure. The analysis is mainly done in the framework of ...
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This chapter focuses on the role of the government in ensuring basic needs and how that may be managed through income taxes and public expenditure. The analysis is mainly done in the framework of income flows to and from quantiles of households.Less
This chapter focuses on the role of the government in ensuring basic needs and how that may be managed through income taxes and public expenditure. The analysis is mainly done in the framework of income flows to and from quantiles of households.
Steffen Ganghof
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199240920
- eISBN:
- 9780191600180
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199240922.003.0013
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
While tax competition is widely regarded as a major fiscal constraint on the welfare state, in fact, very little is known about its real impact. How have advanced industrialized states reacted to the ...
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While tax competition is widely regarded as a major fiscal constraint on the welfare state, in fact, very little is known about its real impact. How have advanced industrialized states reacted to the growing mobility of parts of their tax base? To what extent has tax competition resulted in a shift of burdens to less mobile tax bases? In answering these questions, the article identifies the different shape and force of tax competition in different areas of taxation, and the differing ways in which countries have responded. The conclusion is that the pressures of international tax competition are real, but so are countervailing economic and political pressures that work against a general ‘race to the bottom’ in the taxation of potentially mobile bases. At the same time, revenue‐preserving adjustment strategies have prevented large‐scale revenue losses at the price of creating politically more controversial structures of taxation.Less
While tax competition is widely regarded as a major fiscal constraint on the welfare state, in fact, very little is known about its real impact. How have advanced industrialized states reacted to the growing mobility of parts of their tax base? To what extent has tax competition resulted in a shift of burdens to less mobile tax bases? In answering these questions, the article identifies the different shape and force of tax competition in different areas of taxation, and the differing ways in which countries have responded. The conclusion is that the pressures of international tax competition are real, but so are countervailing economic and political pressures that work against a general ‘race to the bottom’ in the taxation of potentially mobile bases. At the same time, revenue‐preserving adjustment strategies have prevented large‐scale revenue losses at the price of creating politically more controversial structures of taxation.
James W. Cortada
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195165869
- eISBN:
- 9780199868025
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195165869.003.0002
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Business History
One of the largest and most pervasive uses of computers by all governments across the American economy has been for accounting applications. While the fundamental missions and tasks have not changed ...
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One of the largest and most pervasive uses of computers by all governments across the American economy has been for accounting applications. While the fundamental missions and tasks have not changed over time, how the work of accounting, financial, and tax departments has been accomplished has. This chapter discusses the introduction and use of computing in tax filing, collections, and compliance. Topics covered include the Internal Revenue Service, state tax and financial applications, local government tax applications, and the adoption of software tools by tax preparers and payers.Less
One of the largest and most pervasive uses of computers by all governments across the American economy has been for accounting applications. While the fundamental missions and tasks have not changed over time, how the work of accounting, financial, and tax departments has been accomplished has. This chapter discusses the introduction and use of computing in tax filing, collections, and compliance. Topics covered include the Internal Revenue Service, state tax and financial applications, local government tax applications, and the adoption of software tools by tax preparers and payers.
Alasdair Roberts
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195374988
- eISBN:
- 9780199776849
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195374988.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics
This chapter focuses on the problem of tax collection faced by developing countries in the era of liberalization. The 1980s and 1990s constituted a decade of “radical reform” in tax administration ...
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This chapter focuses on the problem of tax collection faced by developing countries in the era of liberalization. The 1980s and 1990s constituted a decade of “radical reform” in tax administration within the developing world, again built on the logic of discipline. But the naïve-institutionalist approach to reform proved vulnerable to counterattacks by well-entrenched bureaucratic, political, and social forces.Less
This chapter focuses on the problem of tax collection faced by developing countries in the era of liberalization. The 1980s and 1990s constituted a decade of “radical reform” in tax administration within the developing world, again built on the logic of discipline. But the naïve-institutionalist approach to reform proved vulnerable to counterattacks by well-entrenched bureaucratic, political, and social forces.
Michael Veseth
- Published in print:
- 1991
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195064209
- eISBN:
- 9780199854998
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195064209.003.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Economic History
This book is an experiment in comparative economic history. That is, it attempts to apply a model of structural change and fiscal crisis to two critical periods of the past: Renaissance Florence and ...
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This book is an experiment in comparative economic history. That is, it attempts to apply a model of structural change and fiscal crisis to two critical periods of the past: Renaissance Florence and Victorian Britain, as well as to recent events in the United States. These qre periods of great economic changes and – not coincidentally – fiscal crisis and tax reform. In other words, these are times and places where the book thinks the outlines of the model hold. The book's ultimate goal is to apply the insights provided by past episodes to an analysis of problems today. This is not a history book but one which uses history to explore a profound contemporary problem: the problem of structural change and fiscal crisis. The goal is not to enlighten the understanding of the past but to use the past to improve the understanding of the present.Less
This book is an experiment in comparative economic history. That is, it attempts to apply a model of structural change and fiscal crisis to two critical periods of the past: Renaissance Florence and Victorian Britain, as well as to recent events in the United States. These qre periods of great economic changes and – not coincidentally – fiscal crisis and tax reform. In other words, these are times and places where the book thinks the outlines of the model hold. The book's ultimate goal is to apply the insights provided by past episodes to an analysis of problems today. This is not a history book but one which uses history to explore a profound contemporary problem: the problem of structural change and fiscal crisis. The goal is not to enlighten the understanding of the past but to use the past to improve the understanding of the present.
Paul Stoneman
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199572489
- eISBN:
- 9780191722257
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199572489.003.0012
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Innovation
This chapter considers policy issues. Given the potential benefits of soft innovation it is natural to consider whether government can speed up or extend such activity. However, this is not ...
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This chapter considers policy issues. Given the potential benefits of soft innovation it is natural to consider whether government can speed up or extend such activity. However, this is not necessarily welfare desirable. The real issue concerns whether markets will or will not, unaided, produce the welfare optimal outcome. The literature considered shows that this question cannot be answered irrefutably in either direction. Market failure is thus not a strong ground on which to base policy intervention. Alternatively, international comparisons of soft innovation performance may be used by governments as a basis for policy. The chapter shows that the UK is not the international leader in soft innovation. Looking at returns to the Community Innovation Survey provides some insight into barriers to innovations and may be argued to support certain policy interventions. There is also only limited evidence on the potential effectiveness of policies.Less
This chapter considers policy issues. Given the potential benefits of soft innovation it is natural to consider whether government can speed up or extend such activity. However, this is not necessarily welfare desirable. The real issue concerns whether markets will or will not, unaided, produce the welfare optimal outcome. The literature considered shows that this question cannot be answered irrefutably in either direction. Market failure is thus not a strong ground on which to base policy intervention. Alternatively, international comparisons of soft innovation performance may be used by governments as a basis for policy. The chapter shows that the UK is not the international leader in soft innovation. Looking at returns to the Community Innovation Survey provides some insight into barriers to innovations and may be argued to support certain policy interventions. There is also only limited evidence on the potential effectiveness of policies.
Mario Mazzocchi, W. Bruce Traill, and Jason F. Shogren
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199213856
- eISBN:
- 9780191695902
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199213856.003.0006
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
This final chapter summarizes the evidence and identifies remaining questions. It argues that obesity policy is as much a question of social choice as of biology. It gives the key points raised by ...
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This final chapter summarizes the evidence and identifies remaining questions. It argues that obesity policy is as much a question of social choice as of biology. It gives the key points raised by the book. It claims that obesity poses a modern day challenge to understanding human health and welfare and that it may be due to technological change. Obesity policy needs economics for risk assessment and management. It also offers that obesity cannot be changed by information policy alone but with a combination of fat taxes and thin subsidies.Less
This final chapter summarizes the evidence and identifies remaining questions. It argues that obesity policy is as much a question of social choice as of biology. It gives the key points raised by the book. It claims that obesity poses a modern day challenge to understanding human health and welfare and that it may be due to technological change. Obesity policy needs economics for risk assessment and management. It also offers that obesity cannot be changed by information policy alone but with a combination of fat taxes and thin subsidies.
Peter Taylor-Gooby and Trine P. Larsen
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- January 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199267262
- eISBN:
- 9780191602023
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019926726X.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
The UK developed an innovative agenda of new social risk policies through the 1980s and 1990s. The Conservative government up to 1997 essentially pursued liberal market reforms with minimal provision ...
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The UK developed an innovative agenda of new social risk policies through the 1980s and 1990s. The Conservative government up to 1997 essentially pursued liberal market reforms with minimal provision for vulnerable minorities. After 1997, new labour developed a programme of work‐life balance and New Deal labour market reforms that represented a change of direction in the UK context. These policies relied heavily on market provision and on market incentives, with a state safety net for those on low incomes, but were more generous than the previous provision and were carefully and consciously structured to enhance work incentives for women with domestic responsibilities and others. They were influential in welfare state debate across Europe and at EU level. Reliance on a private sector, which government cannot directly control, created problems, most notably in childcare, elder care, and pensions. The UK is able to change policy rapidly due to its highly centralised ‘Westminster’ governmental system. Its reform experience has important lessons for other European countries.Less
The UK developed an innovative agenda of new social risk policies through the 1980s and 1990s. The Conservative government up to 1997 essentially pursued liberal market reforms with minimal provision for vulnerable minorities. After 1997, new labour developed a programme of work‐life balance and New Deal labour market reforms that represented a change of direction in the UK context. These policies relied heavily on market provision and on market incentives, with a state safety net for those on low incomes, but were more generous than the previous provision and were carefully and consciously structured to enhance work incentives for women with domestic responsibilities and others. They were influential in welfare state debate across Europe and at EU level. Reliance on a private sector, which government cannot directly control, created problems, most notably in childcare, elder care, and pensions. The UK is able to change policy rapidly due to its highly centralised ‘Westminster’ governmental system. Its reform experience has important lessons for other European countries.
Michael Schaller
- Published in print:
- 1995
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195090499
- eISBN:
- 9780199854196
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195090499.003.0007
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the accomplishments and achievements of Ronald Reagan as U.S. president. Reagan achieved many of the symbolic goals he had pledged to strive ...
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This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the accomplishments and achievements of Ronald Reagan as U.S. president. Reagan achieved many of the symbolic goals he had pledged to strive for, including the reduction of federal tax rates and improved relations with the Soviet Union. He retired with a public approval rating of 70 percent, higher than any president since Franklin Roosevelt. However, Reagan also left a number of economic, social and environment problems. These include the Iran-Contra affair and an increase in federal debt. In addition, his administration's approach to a variety of social problems, such as teenage pregnancy and AIDS remained essentially negative.Less
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the accomplishments and achievements of Ronald Reagan as U.S. president. Reagan achieved many of the symbolic goals he had pledged to strive for, including the reduction of federal tax rates and improved relations with the Soviet Union. He retired with a public approval rating of 70 percent, higher than any president since Franklin Roosevelt. However, Reagan also left a number of economic, social and environment problems. These include the Iran-Contra affair and an increase in federal debt. In addition, his administration's approach to a variety of social problems, such as teenage pregnancy and AIDS remained essentially negative.
