The Death of the Income Tax explains how the current income tax is needlessly complex, contains perverse incentives against saving and investment, fails to use modern technology to ease compliance and collection burdens, and is subject to micromanaging and mismanaging by Congress. Daniel Goldberg proposes that the solution to the problems of the current income tax is completely replacing it with a progressive consumption tax collected electronically at the point of sale.

This book focuses on development of blockchain-based new-generation financial infrastructures, in which a systematic, complete theoretical framework is proposed to explore blockchain-based securities trading platform, central securities depository (CSD), securities settlement system (SSS), central counterparty (CCP), payment system (PS) and trade repository (TR). The blockchain-based new FMI has attracted much attention in the securities industry. At present, the cross-border depository receipt (DR) business faces a dilemma between efficiency and security. In this book, the author proposes a blockchain-based new DR solution, manifesting the potential for using blockchain technology in the FMI field. In addition, using Hashed Timelock Contract (HTLC) as the underlying technology in the DR scenario, specific process and operations are proposed for delivery versus payment (DvP), delivery versus delivery (DvD) or payment versus payment (PvP) and other exchange-of-value methods. This book further studies how to carry out opening positions, end-of-day settlement of margin, forced liquidation and settlement at maturity, for exchange-traded derivatives, such as futures and options, under the blockchain-based technological framework. Blockchain technology not only naturally fits into the decentralized or non-centralized characteristic of the OTC market but also can effectively address the pain points and difficulties of the OTC market. This book provides an in-depth analysis of existing specific issues in China's bond market, regional equity markets and asset management market, among other OTC markets, and proposes relevant blockchain-based solutions. Blockchain technology does not change the public policy objectives for FMI. The blockchain-based new FMIs are still subject to compliance, safety and efficiency requirements. This book provides a comprehensive assessment of the applicability of the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMI) to them, in particular, analyzes their legal basis, off-chain governance and system security.

The financial sustainability of the welfare state, its efficiency in covering new risks and to effectively reallocate resources in a fair way are now classic issues for debate. This book explores the more understated question of the democratic legitimacy of a 'quasi' European policy in a field which is subjected to the contradictory impact of ever tighter European economic governance. With the wide vision of a comparative perspective and the deep knowledge of social policy scholars, the authors of this book offer inspiring insights into different facets of democratic governance which are likely to inform European decision makers in the coming decade.' - Agnes Hubert, member of the Bureau for European Policy Advisors - European CommissionThe welfare state in Europe has been reformed gradually over the past two decades, with the intensification of the economic and monetary union and the addition of fifteen new members to the EU. This book explores the pressures that have been placed on the welfare state through a variety of insightful and thought-provoking contributions. As the standard of living has increased, aspirations and financial constraints have required major rethinking. There is considerable disparity between European countries in how they approach the welfare system, with differing concern over aspects such as income, employment and the ability to participate in society. Choices over welfare lie at the heart of the democratic system; this book explores the tensions this has produced and the innovative responses in policy content and institutions. The Changing Welfare State in Europe has a wide appeal, which will have relevance to economists, scholars in public and social policy, public and private finance experts, policymakers and also academics with an interest in the impact of financial and economic development. Contributors: T. Altman, C. Cheyne, K. Lyons, D.G. Mayes, A. Michalski, Z. Mustaffa, C. Shore, M. Thomson

This Palgrave Pivot provides a concise overview of pension systems which, whether paid by governments or by private companies, are the sole source of income for millions of people around the world. By 2050, two billion elderly people will have to be ensured some form of income while, at the same time, the prospect facing younger generations is of a gloomy future. This book breaks down the jargon, investigates different designs and analyses these designs' effects on financial sustainability, their adequacy when it comes to level and replacement rates, and their effects on intra- and inter-generational distribution. The author provides also an overview of the historical, demographic and political issues connected with the pension debate. This book will be of interest to students and academics, and professionals involved in the pensions industry.

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the external debt problem of a country--Mexico--that allegedly faces a debt overhang, which inhibits long-term growth-oriented investment. Issues facing the debtor nation and its commercial bank creditors are simultaneously examined in order to move closer towards an understanding of the situation of debt-distressed developing countries. The need to address these issues on a case-by-case basis is emphasized, opposed to a global approach to solving the debt crisis presently recommended by some.

Not only does this work provide a survey of the theoretical literature on the international debt crisis it also provides a way of incorporating simultaneously the concerns of the opposing sides--debtor nations and creditor banks. It will be of interest to economists and policy-makers in international finance and trade and development economics.

This Handbook is a comprehensive anthology of up-to-date chapters contributed by current researchers in budget forecasting. Editors Daniel Williams and Thad Calabrese had previously found substantial deficiencies in public budgeting forecast literature with current research failing to address such matters as practices related to forecasting expenditure factors, the consequences of forecast bias, or empirical examination of the effectiveness of many deterministic methods actually used by many governments. This volume comprehensively addresses the state of knowledge about budget forecasting for practitioners, academics, and students and serves as a comprehensive resource for instruction alongside serving as a reference book for those engaged in budget forecasting practice.

This book is a work that focuses on the forest environmental tax. Forest resources have played a major role in preventing global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide and supplying oxygen. However, global economic growth has adversely affected the global environment and has exacerbated global warming due to excessive consumption of forest resources. The functions or "services" of forests are diverse, but the interest of the citizenry in forest cultivation is scarce since forests are public goods. Concurrently, Japanese forestry, which has played an important role in forest conservation, is steadily declining, and it is no longer possible for private forest operators to maintain the forest environment. Therefore, in order to realize sustainable economic growth, it is necessary to formulate policies for the conservation of appropriate forest environments. Forest conservation is an especially important policy issue for Japan, where two-thirds of the country is forested. In Japan, a forest environmental tax is being introduced as a forest conservation policy. As of 2021, the forest environmental tax has already been introduced in about two-thirds of the prefectures and soon will be introduced as a national tax. In this book, the significance and issues of the forest environmental tax will be sorted out, and the status of the introduction of the forest environmental tax in Japan will be compared with that of other countries. In addition, there is additional material regarding the water source conservation fund in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, a system similar to the forest environmental tax.

Government is a major player in the development of an economy. Government's public financial operations involving mobilization of revenue, and its spending has considerable implications on the growth, distribution and stability necessitating a careful study to enable informed mid course policy corrections to the macroeconomic developments. A critical review of public expenditure is imperative in ensuring optimal use of public resources for the maximization of welfare. The book provides an empirical understanding of historical trends and composition of public expenditure at the central and the sub national levels; the effectiveness of public expenditure control systems and accountability issues; the political economy of spending decisions; public expenditure reforms undertaken in India and international best options that can guide the corrective process in India. Given the global shift in focus from 'outlays' to 'outcomes' it is important to put in place a sound framework to track the results of government expenditure programs to guide the informed expenditure decision making process. The book documents the features of useful frameworks and steps involved in adopting a robust results framework. Fiscal management of Covid-19 is an important component of the book. The purpose of this volume is to reach out a comprehensive and updated understanding of empirical issues in public expenditure and its management in India to the students of Public Finance.

This book explains the theoretical and policy issues associated with the taxation of financial services and includes a jurisdictional overview that illustrates alternative policy choices and the legal consequences of those choices . The book addresses the question: how can financial services in an increasingly globalized market best be taxed through VAT while avoiding economic distortions? It supports the discussion of the key practical problems that have arisen from the particular complexity of the application of VAT to financial services, and allows for the evaluation of best practice by comparing the major current reform models now being implemented.

How economics needs to change to keep pace with the twenty-first century and the digital economy Digital technology, big data, big tech, machine learning, and AI are revolutionizing both the tools of economics and the phenomena it seeks to measure, understand, and shape. In Cogs and Monsters, Diane Coyle explores the enormous problems—but also opportunities—facing economics today and examines what it must do to help policymakers solve the world’s crises, from pandemic recovery and inequality to slow growth and the climate emergency. Mainstream economics, Coyle says, still assumes people are “cogs”—self-interested, calculating, independent agents interacting in defined contexts. But the digital economy is much more characterized by “monsters”—untethered, snowballing, and socially influenced unknowns. What is worse, by treating people as cogs, economics is creating its own monsters, leaving itself without the tools to understand the new problems it faces. In response, Coyle asks whether economic individualism is still valid in the digital economy, whether we need to measure growth and progress in new ways, and whether economics can ever be objective, since it influences what it analyzes. Just as important, the discipline needs to correct its striking lack of diversity and inclusion if it is to be able to offer new solutions to new problems. Filled with original insights, Cogs and Monsters offers a road map for how economics can adapt to the rewiring of society, including by digital technologies, and realize its potential to play a hugely positive role in the twenty-first century.

Economic Effects of Natural Disasters explores how natural disasters affect sources of economic growth and development. Using theoretical econometrics and real-world data, and drawing on advances in climate change economics, the book shows scholars and researchers how to use various research methods and techniques to investigate and respond to natural disasters. No other book presents empirical frameworks for the evaluation of the quality of macroeconomic research practice with a focus on climate change and natural disasters. Because many of these subjects are so large, different regions of the world use different approaches, hence this resource presents tailored economic applications and evidence.

Today's financial system is considerably more complex than in years past, as new financial instruments have been introduced that are not well understood even by the people and institutions that invest in them. Numerous high-risk opportunities are available, and the number of people who unwittingly wander into such ventures seems to grow daily. There is also the realization that people's lives are affected by the financial system without their overt participation in it. Despite no active participation, pensions can be emasculated by a sudden decline in interest rates, or a rise in rates can increase the monthly payments on a mortgage, credit cards or other debt. This book looks at the history of the American banking system, including the passage of the Federal Reserve Act in 1913, the implementation of deposit insurance, along with certain other provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, the Bretton-Woods agreements, the forces of technological innovation and the Dodd-Frank Act, passed by Congress in 2010 for regulatory reform. This book will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate level students that want to gain a broad understanding of how the financial system works, why it is important to the economy as a whole, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. Also, readers should gain an understanding of what the Federal Reserve, other regulators and other central banks are doing, and will be in a position to critique their actions and say with some depth of understanding why they agree or disagree with them.

Public Sector Leadership in Assessing and Addressing Risk explores risk management in practice, taking a specific focus on the identification of risks in the European public sector while contextualising its Eurocentric analysis within a global setting. The volume lays important groundwork for understanding the main philosophical premises of risk management. Navigating the text's philosophical underpinnings such as 'Risk Management is a misnomer', the editors provide deep insight into global, strategic, and operational risk management that will prove invaluable for any practitioner. Providing high quality academic research, ESFIRM provides a platform for authors to explore, analyse and discuss current and new financial models and theories, and engage with innovative research on an international scale.

This major Handbook addresses fiscal relations between different levels of government under the general rubric of 'fiscal federalism', providing a review of the latest literature as well as an invaluable guide for practitioners and policy makers seeking informed policy options. The contributors include leading lights in the field, many of whom have themselves made seminal contributions to the literature. Comprehensive and wide in coverage, the issues covered range from federal systems to other forms of intergovernmental relations, such as supra-national constructs - namely, the European Union - unitary states, regional systems, and more decentralized operations, including community level organizations. The political economy approach emphasizes the importance of institutional arrangements, including the legal, political and administrative aspects, and information flows to ensure that there are appropriate incentives and sanctions to generate good governance. This Handbook also devotes attention to emerging issues, such as environmental protection, the sharing of natural resources among levels of government, corruption and the impact of federalism and decentralization on national unity. It will be a vital reference tool for the area for many years to come.

Contributors discuss the Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) and Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) as a model both for resource policy and for social policy. This book explores whether other states, nations, or regions would benefit from an Alaskan-style dividend. The book also looks at possible ways that the model might be altered and improved.

G. Galeotti* and M. Marrelli** *Universita di Perugia **Universita di Napoli 1. The economic analysis of optimal taxation has permitted considerable steps to be taken towards the understanding of a number of problems: the appropriate degree of progression, the balance between different taxes, the equity-efficiency trade-off etc .. Though at times considered as abstract and of little use in policy design, the issues it addresses are real ones and very much on the agenda of many countries. As usual in scientific debate, criticisms have contributed to the correct understanding of the theoretical problems involved and made clear that, at the present state of the art, definitive conclusions may be premature. A first well-taken criticism addresses the assumption, underlying optimal taxation models, of a competitive economy with perfect information on the part of individual agents and full market clearing. Once we leave the Arrow-Debreu world, it is no longer necessarily the case that taxes and transfers introduce distortions on otherwise efficient allocations.

New York City has the largest council-sponsored Participatory Budgeting (PB) processes in North America. From its inception in Brazil, PB was a process that empowered the least-advantaged members of the community by providing a way to propose budget allocations through voting. This book reports on a multi-methodological study of New York City's participatory budgeting (PB) process from the perspective of a city resident over time. A participatory budgeting slogan purports that the initiative offers "real power" and "real money" to constituents at a local level. To critically examine such top-down assertions, and different than much that has been written about PB, this book researches and navigates its events the way a member of the community would see it. The study reveals a lack of transparency, manipulation by city agencies, the favorable treatment of insider proposed projects, and a failure to reveal the basis of project costs. It also finds that there is no singular participatory budgeting project in New York City. Instead, there are numerous participatory budget projects, as many as there are council members who engage in the practice. This book provides a ground-level view of these limitations and recommends substantial reform.

Environmental Pricing is an interesting book containing a broad collection of chapters that discuss issues of relevance for environmental policymaking. The topics range from support for renewable energy and fossil fuels via environmental taxation to policies for water management. The book provides relevant information regarding the many issues covered, and some chapters will stimulate further debate.' - Nils Axel Braathen, Principal Administrator OECD, Environment Directorate'As someone who has been involved in speaking, disseminating knowledge and engaging with policymakers for the last couple of decades on environmental taxation I wholeheartedly support and endorse this collection of topical and informative papers . . . a fascinating insight into the latest thinking and research in the field and a highly valued reference source.' - Chas Roy-Chowdhury, The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK Environmental taxes can be efficient tools for successful environmental policy. Their use, however, has been limited in many countries. This thoughtful book explores the scope of environmental pricing and examines a variety of national experiences in environmental policy integration, to identify the most effective use of taxation and policy for environmental sustainability. Environmental taxes are seldom implemented in isolation and are applied in combination with other regulatory instruments. At issue is the critical lack of knowledge on how different policy instruments and taxes interact and work together. This perceptive book considers recent research on the environmental and economic impact of applying environmental taxes. Expert contributors come together to discuss the high potential for wider use of environmental taxation in combination with other policy instruments, and highlight key areas of current practice that must be addressed. Empirical studies of policy strategies are discussed to illustrate the extent to which current climate change policy is integrated against the proposed successful policy combinations that are presented in this insightful book. Environmental pricing will be of interest to scholars, practitioners and policymakers alike in the areas of environmental law, environmental economics and environmental sustainability. Contributors: M. Antenucci, K. Bachus, K. Bubna-Litic, J. Cottrell, E. Fonseca Capdevila, Enrique, M.A. Grau Ruiz, X. Guo, D.L. Jarvie, T. Kawakatsu, C. Kettner, M. Kicia, D. Kletzan-Slamanig, A. Koeppl, L. Kreiser, A. Lerch, Y. Mao, I. Mersinia, A. Pirlot, M. Rosenstock, S. Rudolph, H. Sprohge, F. Vanswijgenhoven, M. Villar Ezcurra, R.H. Weber, J. Wu

Globalization and the information revolution have highlighted the catalytic role of local governments for improving economic and social outcomes at the local level as well as growing the national economy by enhancing international competitiveness. This comprehensive account of local public finance and economics brings together principles and better practices for improving quality and access of local public services provision. The volume covers assignment of responsibilities; jurisdictional design; local service delivery; local regulation; local self-financing options such as income, sales, property and environmental taxation, user charges and fees; infrastructure finance options; and higher order government financing of local governments. The treatment is non-technical and suitable for a wide variety of audiences including scholars, instructors, students, media, policy advisers and practitioners.

Many people have serious concerns about the environment and wonder whether solving environmental problems is compatible with continuing economic growth. This book provides an in-depth exploration of a proposed reform to the national tax system, whereby the burden of taxes is shifted from conventional taxes, such as those levied on labour and capital, to taxes on environmentally related activities, that involve resource use, particularly energy, or environmental pollution. There is some experience of such 'environmental tax reform' (ETR) in Europe, and the book briefly reviews this before considering how a more ambitious ETR in Europe could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and material flows through the economy, while stimulating innovation and investment in the key 'clean and green' sectors of the economy which seem likely to play an increasing part in the creation of prosperity in Europe and elsewhere in the future.
Case studies of renewable energy, construction, fuel-efficient vehicles, and waste management in Germany show how these fast-growing sectors are making an increasing contribution to employment, output, and exports in the German economy, while improving the environment. The book explores the implications of introducing it on a much wider scale throughout the European Union. A unique modelling exercise, using two macroeconomic models, delivers varied and complementary insights into the economic and environmental results of a large-scale ETR in Europe, and its effects on and implications for the rest of the world. The modelling suggests that such a policy has a key role in the achievement of Europe's targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and, if implemented with cooperative policy in other countries, could significantly reduce global emissions.
The book is essential and hopeful reading for anyone who has wondered how, with today's intensifying environmental challenges, economic growth could become more environmentally sustainable.

Raising money was one of the great successes of the Irish government, as the funds provided the sinews of war with which to fight Britain. This book details the history of the financing of the Irish revolution from both domestic and international loans. Divisions in Irish society over the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State led to the outbreak of the Civil War. The Free State's ability to deny the anti-Treaty forces access to the loan funds through a ten-year court battle would prove a powerful weapon in defeating the Republicans.

The Dail government depended on the loans to finance their operations, and the failure of the anti-Treaty forces was due in part to their shortage of funds. International complications arose for the Free State when courts in Dublin and New York disagreed over dispersal of the money. Upon his return to government office, Eamon de Valera appealed to bond holders, particularly those in the United States, to give the loan money to him to found an opposition newspaper. Only when de Valera himself formed a government would all of the bond money be repaid. These events would raise questions of international law, and the results would shape Irish relations with the United States for a decade.

The book is dedicated to the question of how much room for national tax policy Member States of the European Union will be able to maintain in the future. It focuses on the possibilities Member States have and the limits they face, such as the need to finance the welfare state or limits of European and International Law. The research question is looked at from different angles. Economic as well as legal aspects are included.

This proceedings volume contains research trends, issues and developments in global economics and management with particular focus on the digital postindustrial economy-Economy 4.0. Featuring papers presented at the Economic and Management session of the 2018 Prospects of Fundamental Science Development International Conference (PFSD 2018) held in Tomsk, Russia, this book presents new models, methods, analyses, and approaches to different sectors of economics and management such as tax policy, labor economics, econometrics, municipal management systems, and international finance, among others. The papers are related to three main topics: Theoretical approaches to the development of Economy 4.0, the construction of a postindustrial society, and their impact on the labor market, finance, public and social values. Innovative methods and models are mentioned as well. The creation and implementation of cryptocurrencies and block chain technology. Comparative analysis of regional and institutional economics in different countries such as Russia, China, the United States and the EU, among others. Regulation, supervision, accounting and economic security measures are also explored. Featuring industry-specific case studies in sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, IT and ecology, this book is a useful reference for academics, students, practitioners, and scholars in economics.

In developing countries, such as Paraguay, informality remains a prevalent and persistent issue. Many avoid formal registration with the authorities and evade tax payments. However, a growing academic literature argues for an interrelation between a broader tax base and a country's economic and democratic development. A strand of this literature focuses on the means of taxing the informal sector and argues for positive revenue and growth effects. This Palgrave Pivot analyses Paraguay's 2004 and 2012 tax reforms using both qualitative and quantitative data. It illustrates that the country's personal income tax, as well as other alterations in the tax system, constitute an incentive and nudging mechanism that leads to a formalisation process of economic activity, and consequently to a broader tax base. Using interview and tax data, the book demonstrates how the reform initiates a rising demand of formalised purchases from both customers and businesses. It further suggests a potential way of how the taxpayers respond politically to the enhanced fiscal imperative.