The first book-length treatment of the public financing of elections in the United States

Adair Turner became chairman of Britain's Financial Services Authority just as the global financial crisis struck in 2008, and he played a leading role in redesigning global financial regulation. In this eye-opening book, he sets the record straight about what really caused the crisis. It didn't happen because banks are too big to fail--our addiction to private debt is to blame. Between Debt and the Devil challenges the belief that we need credit growth to fuel economic growth, and that rising debt is okay as long as inflation remains low. In fact, most credit is not needed for economic growth--but it drives real estate booms and busts and leads to financial crisis and depression. Turner explains why public policy needs to manage the growth and allocation of credit creation, and why debt needs to be taxed as a form of economic pollution. Banks need far more capital, real estate lending must be restricted, and we need to tackle inequality and mitigate the relentless rise of real estate prices. Turner also debunks the big myth about fiat money--the erroneous notion that printing money will lead to harmful inflation. To escape the mess created by past policy errors, we sometimes need to monetize government debt and finance fiscal deficits with central-bank money. Between Debt and the Devil shows why we need to reject the assumptions that private credit is essential to growth and fiat money is inevitably dangerous. Each has its advantages, and each creates risks that public policy must consciously balance.

This contributed volume explores the political economy and socioeconomic aspects of the Greek Financial Crisis both within the country's borders and as part of the global economy. With chapters authored by international experts, this book examines and explicitly deals with specific and important issues that have been ignored by the dominant socioeconomic theory and practice, which have largely focused on the causes and broad economic consequences of the crisis. Discussions include the efficacy of new EU institutions created to address the crisis, the rise of unregistered economic activity, and comparisons with financial crises in countries beyond Europe. This diverse collection argues that the Greek Financial Crisis was not just an economic crisis, but a political and social crisis as well, one with repercussions beyond Europe.

The very word taxes sends shivers up spines. Yet, very few realize the tremendous impact that taxation has had on civilization. Charles Adams changes that in this fascinating history. Taxation, says Mr. Adams, has been a catalyst of history, the powerful influence if not the direct cause of many of the famous events of history that have marched across the world's stage as empires collided and battled for the right to tax the loser. For Good and Evil is the first book to examine how taxation has been a key factor in world events. Like the Rosetta Stone - a tax document - the book sheds fresh light onto much of history. Did you know that biblical Israel split after Solomon's death because his son refused to cut taxes? That Rome rose to greatness due to a liberal tax regime but declined under corrupt and inefficient ones? That in Britain, Lady Godiva made her famous ride as a tax protest? That in Switzerland William Tell shot the apple off his son's head as punishment for tax resistance? Or that Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, was a Customs House? Combining facts with thought-provoking comment he frequently draws parallels between tax events of the past and those of the present. Finding fault with the way Western civilization is taxed, Adams provides ideas for curing those faults by using the valuable lessons that history has taught. The special value of this refreshing new look at history lies in the lessons to be drawn by all thinking taxpayers. "Taxes are the fuel that makes civilization run, but how we tax and spend determines to a large extent whether we are prosperous or poor, free or enslaved, and most importantly, good or evil". Once you read ForGood and Evil, you'll never feel the same about taxes!

Addressing the chronic underestimation of capital and operating costs in urban transportation projects, this book provides a detailed analysis of the cost estimating process using case studies from three U.S. cities and outlines a practical framework for this process. The work goes beyond a simple quantitative approach to explaining cost underestimation and looks at the planning process as a tool for both argumentation and structuring the argumentation. This approach highlights the difficulties in several components of the estimating process and suggests specific and practical actions to address these problems. The proposed framework will strengthen the estimating function and the link between analysis and decision in urban transportation planning. This work will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in transportation planning, urban planning, and transportation engineering.

International Commercial Tax, 2nd edition takes account of the substantial developments of the last decade. With more than sixty percent new material, the book considers the outcomes of the OECD's BEPS project and the substantial consequential 2017 revisions of the OECD and UN Model tax treaties. With the continuing rise in the economic importance of non-OECD countries and the UK distancing itself from the EU, there has been a refocusing with less direct attention on UK domestic law and greater focus on the approaches of other significant countries, especially other common law jurisdictions. This provides greater flexibility as to how a particular point or issue is illustrated with practical examples. Greater attention is given to the UN Model, which is increasingly important. The book continues to compare the approach under model tax treaties with EU law and is updated with copious references and illustrations from the burgeoning jurisprudence of the EU Court.

Perfecting your pricing is fundamental to the success of your business. It affects how your customers perceive you, it can make or break a sale, and it's the most powerful key to profitable and sustainable growth. But how do you know your pricing is right? How do you approach making this most crucial of decisions with confidence and clarity? In Pricing for Success, leading pricing expert Mark Peacock takes a fresh look at the power and psychology of pricing and walks you clearly through seven essential steps that will improve your pricing, delight your customers, and create a more profitable business. Through an illuminating and informative blend of straightforward examples, templates and real-life case-studies, presented alongside over fifty expert pricing tips, tools and tactics, you'll discover: Why pricing is your biggest lever for profitable growth The persuasive pricing techniques that have the biggest impact How customer-driven approaches make it easier to boost your bottom line The surprising truth about premium pricing and how its easier to sell How to cleverly structure your offer so you can optimise your prices How to avoid common pricing pitfalls and lose your fear of losing business The time you spend on getting this right is the best investment youll make in your business. So, stop leaving money on the table, start taking control of your pricing and create a powerful new approach to pricing that will unlock higher profits and provide sustainable business growth.

This collection of essays examines the political economy approach to military spending, primarily by the United States. The articles deal specifically with the relationships between defence spending and: (a) political-business cycles, public opinion and the US-Soviet relationship; (b) military action - ie war; (c) economic performance - the trade deficit, guns versus butter issues and fiscal policy.

The last time global sovereign debt reached the level seen today was at the end of the Second World War, and this shaped a generation of economic policymaking. International institutions were transformed, country policies were often draconian and distortive, and many crises ensued. By the early 1970s, when debt fell back to pre-war levels, the world was radically different. It is likely that changes of a similar magnitude -for better and for worse - will play out over coming decades. Sovereign Debt: A Guide for Economists and Practitioners is an attempt to build some structure around the issues of sovereign debt to help guide economists, practitioners and policymakers through this complicated, but not intractable, subject. Sovereign Debt brings together some of the world's leading researchers and specialists in sovereign debt to cover a range of sub-disciplines within this vast topic. It explores debt management with debt sustainability; debt reduction policies with crisis prevention policies; and the history with the conjuncture. It is a foundation text for all those interested in sovereign debt, with a particular focus real world examples and issues.

The main objective of this book is to develop a strategy and policy measures to enhance the formalization of the shadow economy in order to improve the competitiveness of the economy and contribute to economic growth; it explores these issues with special reference to Serbia. The size and development of the shadow economy in Serbia and other Central and Eastern European countries are estimated using two different methods (the MIMIC method and household-tax-compliance method). Micro-estimates are based on a special survey of business entities in Serbia, which for the first time allows us to explore the shadow economy from the perspective of enterprises and entrepreneurs. The authors identify the types of shadow economy at work in business entities, the determinants of shadow economy participation, and the impact of competition from the informal sector on businesses. Readers will learn both about the potential fiscal effects of reducing the shadow economy to the levels observed in more developed countries and the effects that formalization of the shadow economy can have on economic growth.

Das Standardwerk der Investor Relations beleuchtet in der 2., überarbeiteten und erweiterten Auflage praxisnah die aktuellen rechtlichen Entwicklungen sowie Themen der Finanzmarktkrise. Es zeigt, wie IR-Verantwortliche auf die neuen Herausforderungen der internationalen Finanzmärkte reagieren müssen und welche Instrumente die Investor Relations dafür bieten.

Research in Finance seeks to provide a collection of quality research articles that reflect the current and primary issues in financial markets. Contributions include finance theory and financial practice, plus accounting issues such as reporting derivatives positions, reflecting intangible holdings, or predicting financial distress. The volume starts with empirical investigations of the impact from macroeconomic variables upon equity values in emerging economies compared with developed economies. Next is an empirical affirmation of the efficiency of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) electricity exchange. Next we find several investigations into the efficacy of efforts to stimulate the arousal of emerging nations around the world.

This book discusses the impact of taxation on economic growth, employment, investment, consumption and the environment. The public finance literature commonly distinguishes between three major functions of taxation: the traditional function of raising revenue to finance government expenditure; the distributional function as an instrument to alter the distribution of income and wealth amongst households; and the regulatory function that uses taxation at the benefit of stabilization and other economic policies. Especially after the Second World War, OECD countries have increasingly used taxation to achieve a variety of economic and social objectives. Today many governments use the tax system to stimulate economic growth and employment. Fiscal measures also play a role in creating a favourable climate for business investment and to promote a long-term sustainable environmental policy. Currently, in the debate on global warming, the use of tax instruments to tackle climate change is on the top of the international agenda.The authors aim to provide the reader with the necessary empirical information, while at the same time presenting an overview of the latest theory and best practices. In doing so, many relevant policy issues are touched upon. Based on theoretical and empirical studies and practical experiences in OECD countries, the book establishes guidelines for effective tax policy. The book offers tools for tax design in a globalising economy and the world of the internet with increasing tax competition and a growing battle for companies and brains between countries. The book also presents a 'carrot and stick' model to promote clean technologies, reduce pollution and combat climate change. The message from the authors is straightforward: broad, low, simple, and a shift from income to consumption taxation. These principles are illustrated in a concept proposal for a so-called Second Life Tax system.

Volume 24 of Advances in Taxation contains seven articles, covering topics such as the impact of FASB Financial Interpretation No. 48 adoption through the lens of debt covenants; conflicting results in two prior studies on the relation between aggressive financial reporting and tax reporting; how a firm's external environment affects its tax avoidance activities; and bonus depreciation. Other articles use a behavioral research methodology to explore generational values and attitudes towards tax fairness and tax compliance; the expectation gap between tax clients' motivations to hire tax preparers versus tax preparers' perceptions of those clients' motivations; and evidence on the level and determinants of corporate income tax compliance costs.

Assessing both the macro- and micro-economic levels of the contemporary African Debt Crisis, this book, first published in 1989, begins by looking at the origins of the world debt crisis, and then looks closely at the problem as it affects Sub-Saharan Africa. The effects of debt on Africa's position in international relations are considered, and the roles played by organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are assessed. The authors also examine the local effects in a series of case studies of various states including Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone, the Francophone States and Zaire.

Advances in Taxation Vol. 23 contains a collection of high-quality manuscripts addressing problems arising from federal, state local and international taxation. Using a wide variety of research methods, the papers address issues concerning challenges in tax administration, taxpayer decisions, ethical issues in taxation, and college savings plans.

Central banks came out of the Great Recession with increased power and responsibilities. Indeed, central banks are often now seen as 'the only game in town', and a place to put innumerable problems vastly exceeding their traditional remit. These new powers do not fit well, however, with the independence of central banks, remote from the democratic control of government. Central Banking in Turbulent Times examines fundamental questions about the central banking system, asking whether the model of an independent central bank devoted to price stability is the final resting point of a complex development that started centuries ago. It dissects the hypothesis that the Great Recession has prompted a reassessment of that model; a renewed emphasis on financial stability has emerged, possibly vying for first rank in the hierarchy of objectives of central banks. This raises the risk of dilemmas, since the Great Recession brought into question implicit assumptions that the pursuit of price stability would also lead to financial stability. In addition, the border between monetary and fiscal policy was blurred both in the US and in Europe. Central Banking in Turbulent Times asks whether the model prevailing before the Great Recession has been irrevocably altered. Are we entering, as Charles Goodhart has hypothesized, into the 'fourth epoch' of central banking? Are changes to central banks part of a move away from the global liberal order that seemed to have prevailed at the turn of the century? Central Banking in Turbulent Times seeks to answer these questions as it examines how changes can allow for the maintenance of price stability, while adapting to the long-term consequences of the Great Recession.

An intelligent analysis of the dangers, opportunities, and consequences of global sovereign debt

Sovereign debt is growing internationally at a terrifying rate, as nations seek to prop up their collapsing economies. One only needs to look at the sovereign risk pressures faced by Greece, Spain, and Ireland to get an idea of how big this problem has become. Understanding this dilemma is now more important than ever, that's why Robert Kolb has compiled "Sovereign Debt." With this book as your guide, you'll gain a better perspective on the essential issues surrounding sovereign debt and default through discussions of national defaults, systemic risk, associated costs, and much more. Historical studies are also included to provide a realistic framework of reference.Contains up-to-date research and analysis on sovereign debt from today's leading practitioners and academicsDetails the dangers of defaults and their associated systemic risksExplores the past, present, and future of sovereign debt

The repercussions of a national default are all-encompassing as global markets are intricately interwoven in the modern world. "Sovereign Debt" examines what it will take to overcome the challenges of this market and how you can deal with the uncertainty surrounding it.

The authors provide a broad overview of economic aspects of commodity taxation, focussing in particular on theory and on policy applications in OECD countries. Some major papers in public economics have discussed whether these taxes should be levied at a uniform rate, or whether different commodities should be taxed differently, for reasons of either equity or efficiency. The authors begin with this question, and then discuss further issues, including the economic incidence of commodity taxes, the properties of the VAT, the taxation of financial services, the international aspects of commodity taxation, and environmental and health policy aspects.

Many economists and experts interpret the U.S. twin-deficits, the twin-wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2008 Great Recession that escalated the US debt to vertiginous altitudes" as the signs of time that the dollar is now set to repeat the history of the British Pound. But is really the role of the dollar" as a global currency and an international reserve asset" actually rewarded the United States with an exorbitant privilege? This book focuses on the opposite end of exorbitant privilege spectrum: the exorbitant burden the cost the very dollar reserve status impacts on the U.S. economy through the twin deficits. This economic and political science work is a rigorous quantitative analysis that demonstrates that although it is a privilege and a benefit for the US to have its currency, the dollar, as the leading world reserve currency, the privilege also proves to be a very significant economic and security burden imposed on the nation.

The first comprehensive analysis of the design and effects of tax and expenditure limitations (TELs), "The Control of Municipal BudgetS"shows how limitation measures have worked and offers practical guidelines for analyzing and designing such programs under current economic and political conditions. Looking first at the characteristics of different types of TELs, Merriman discusses the various ways in which limitations may be imposed. He next reviews the history and current status of TELs, beginning with control efforts imposed more than a century ago, and comments on the long-range consequences of such measures. He examines conventional government budgeting models (those not governed by TELs) and then develops a model for government behavior under a TEL that will enable decisionmakers and analysts to understand how the effects of a TEL are related to its design. In an analysis of New Jersey's Cap Law, the author applies the analytical model to a concrete instance and presents new evidence on specific effects of TEL programs.

While liberal democracies are the best systems of self-governance for societies, they rarely invoke great enthusiasm. On the one hand, democracies have been known to fail in achieving efficient or fair allocations. On the other hand, many citizens take the democratic system for granted as they have yet to experience an alternative. In this book the vision we propose is that the potential of democ racies has not yet been exhausted, and that optimal democracies are both the Utopia for societies and the aim that scientists should be committed to. We present a number of ideas for drawing up new rules to im prove the functioning of democracies. The book falls into two parts. The first part examines ways of combining incentive contracts with democratic elections. We suggest that a judicious combina tion of these two elements as a dual mechanism can alleviate a wide range of political failures, while at the same time adhering to the founding principles of democracies. The second part presents new rules for decision-making and agenda setting. Together with modern communication devices, these rules can sometimes transcend the limitations of liberal VI Preface democracies in achieving desirable outcomes. Examples of such rules include the flexible majority rule where the size of the ma jority required depends on the proposal, or the rule that only those belonging to the winning majority can be taxed."

Advances in Taxation publishes relevant, high-quality manuscripts from around the world addressing problems arising from federal, state, local and international taxation. The series uses a wide variety of research methods, including archival, experimental, survey, qualitative and legal approaches to address the problems and issues associated with taxation. Volume 22 of Advances in Taxation continues this approach to taxation, looking at issues concerning challenges in tax administration, taxpayer decisions, ethical issues in taxation, and college savings plans.

A practical guide to avoiding accidental philanthropy and controlling your tax destiny

Written by Daniel Nigito-a financial services expert whose programs have saved families millions in tax dollars and created millions more for charities across the United States-this timely guide will show you how to use the simple, yet powerful strategy known as "charitable leverage" to regain control of your financial life.

This proven approach, which allows you to become a partner with charity while gaining control over your tax destiny "and" providing for you and your family, taps into the unique tax characteristics of two financial instruments-the Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) and Cash Value Life Insurance (CVLI)-in order to achieve some amazing goals.Offers insights on increasing your current income while paying less tax on itDiscusses how to develop real asset protection without moving your money offshore or using complicated and often questionable tax schemesDetails how you can build a personal tax-deductible retirement account that does not interfere with other retirement plans

The best way to avoid becoming an accidental philanthropist is by understanding how to make taxes work for "you." "The Power of Leveraging the Charitable Remainder Trust" will show you how to do this and, in the process, add meaning to your money.