Distributional Effects of Transport Taxes： An Incidence Analysis

Wider use of economic instruments in the field of environmental and energy policy provides several benefits. These instruments not only create market-based incentives for environmentally friendly behaviors but also represent effective opportunities to collect revenues. In this context, energy and transport-related taxes play a major role, even if their extensive use has raised several concerns over equity issues. The main objective of the paper is to investigate the redistributive burden of existing transport taxes on Italian households. An incidence analysis is carried out on a sample of more than 23,000 Italian families for the year 2009. Some alternative policy options are also analyzed to provide some suggestions on how to countervail the potential negative regressive effects that might arise. We find that vehicle ownership taxes, if properly set, can represent a promising opportunity to blend together budget and equity needs. To obtain a better indication of the progressivity or regressivity of certain policy designs, we rely on some summary indexes, such as the Kakwani measure of progressivity and the Reynolds-Smolensky measure of redistributive capacity of a tax.

Property Tax Performance of Local Authorities in Malaysia

Property tax income of local authorities has become more challenging due to robust developments. Property tax revenue is the main income for local authorities that are used to pay for services and maintenance in the local authority administrative areas. However, the amount of revenue collected is decreasing due to the serious problem of property tax arrears that affects the administrative system and as a corollary, the delivery of services by local authorities. The performance measurement of property tax is very important in order to manage the services, and for maintenance and development of sustainable local authorities. Therefore, this paper represents a review of the Malaysian local authority property tax collection performance. The rating system is applied to address the performance of property tax collection in Malaysia. The result revealed that most of the property tax collection in Malaysia performed under inadequate level. Property tax collection statistics for the research include the total revenue and property tax arrears for each local authority in Malaysia within five years from 2004 to 2007. It is expected that this property tax performance will be employed as a basis to pursue the appropriate, innovative, and creative approaches for local authorities in Malaysia.

Preferential Policy and Tax Regulations Income Tax of Enterprises and Local Income Tax

*Newly-built joint ventures engaged in new and high technological enterprises shall enjoy a 15 percent reduction of income tax for two years, or a 24 percent reduction for two years and a 50 percent reduction in the following three years. A choice between the two may be decided by the said enterprises. **Service industry, those enterprises with a foreign capital of more than US$5 million shall be exempt from the tax

Environment, Health and Economic Growth： Study on Optimal Energy Tax Revenue Distribution

Under the dual pressures of economic growth and environmental protection,how to curb pollution and raise public welfare without harming the economy or with minimal economic output losses has become a major question facing China in its efforts to transform growth pattern and accomplish economic transition. On the basis of an overlapping generation(OLG) model, this paper introduces the health effects of environmental pollution to systematically discuss the optimal distribution ratio of energy tax revenues in subsidizing household income and emission abatement under given tax rates to reduce the risks of "environment-health-poverty" trap. Our research shows that an optimal distribution ratio for maximizing per capita output or an optimal distribution ratio for maximizing public welfare exists. Based on China's actual parameters, however, this study has found that China's energy tax revenue distribution policy hardly meets the two optimal targets at the same time. Specific distribution ratio is subject to government decision-making preference, and needs to be adjusted according to actual differences.

Problems of Personal Income Tax System and Suggestions： from Function of Tax Adjustment Income Gap

China has a late start in personal income tax, and for many years through six times of revision, it still fails to really achieve the purpose of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor and adjusting income distribution. What follows is an analysis of personal adjustment tax income from the proportion of Gini coefficient, Engels coefficient and salaried class of personal income tax, and an explanation of problems and countermeasures of salaried class expense deduction standard, tax rate design, high-income crowd tax regulation.

Effects of Social Security Spending on Income Distribution and Poverty Reduction in China

Reasonable income distribution and eradication of rural poverty are vital for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in China.This paper primarily examines the income distribution and poverty reduction effects of social security spending.Market income and redistribution policies are two determinants of income gaps.Based on CHIP2018 household survey data,we find that inadequate income redistribution policies have contributed to yawning income gaps,and that social security spending is more redistributive than personal income tax and social security contributions.After estimating the redistribution effects of social security spending and itemized incomes,we find that pension payments have contributed the most to household income gaps,and that subsistence protection and rural pension payments help improve income distribution.With respect to the poverty reduction effects of social security spending,we have estimated China’s current poverty incidence and the poverty reduction effects of pension payments,healthcare,and educational allowances with CHIP2018 data,and discover that an increase in social security spending may effectively reduce rural poverty.In building a moderately prosperous society in all respects,China should increase social security spending,focusing on specific target groups,and promote the role of social security spending in regulating income distribution and offering social protection to rural residents.

Wage and Income Distribution in China:Review and Outlook

Under the planned economy,China’s distribution relations were relations among the state,state-run enterprises,employees and the collective economy;relations between heavy industry and light industry;and relations between cities and the countryside.After China’s transition to a market-oriented economy,the distribution relations among the state,state-run enterprises and employees evolved into distribution relations between the government,enterprises and households;the distribution relations between heavy industry and light industry evolved into distribution relations between the state sector and the private sector;and the distribution relations between cities and the countryside evolved into distribution relations between original urban dwellers and migrant populations.Wage system reform was carried out throughout the transition of these three types of distribution relations.Income distribution contradictions in China,which are a problem left over from history and intrinsic to the market-based economy,eased over the years.Some people and regions achieved prosperity,and urban-rural and interregional income gaps narrowed.However,widening household income gaps pose barriers to China’s economic sustainability and vision of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.Mechanisms to promote common prosperity are incomplete and inadequate.The disequilibrium of functional distribution is an important cause of these income inequalities.The overall wage level of ordinary workers is low.In the future,China'should give full play to the decisive role of the market in primary distribution to ensure proper return to all types of factors,and enhance redistribution to achieve common prosperity for all its people.

Changing central-local relationin post-reform China:a geographical perspective

This study examines the evolution of fiscal relations between the central state and local governments in China since the founding of the People's Republic The emphasis is placed on the changing arrangement for the central state's collection of taxes and allocation of capital among provinces The central local relation has experienced constant reorganization since 1949, but the tax division scheme introduced in the early 1990s represents the most significant change Prior to the 1990s, the central local fiscal relation was shaped by a highly centralized administrative and economic system without rational and scientific design for revenue collection and expenditure The financial responsibility system established after the reforms contributed to regional economic development during the first decade of reforms, but it was a temporary and transitional arrangement that does not meet the requirement of rational resources arrangement according to free market forces The implementation of the tax division scheme has stopped the decline of the ratio of fiscal revenue to gross domestic product, raised the percentage of central revenue in total national income, and strengthened the central function for macro economic control The mechanism for tax refund under the tax division scheme required further improvements Several proposals are made in this study: 1) tax classification should be adjusted according to administration; 2) a scientific and standardized system for regional transfer payment should be developed; and 3) the power for tax legislation should be delineated according to the rational division of administration between the central and local government

Strategic Perspectives on China's New Round of Tax Reform

China's current tax structure is seriously out of balance.It is dominated by indirect tax primarily paid by firms,and the share of direct tax is limited and the share of direct tax paid by households and individuals is still more limited.In order to achieve a more equitable distribution of the tax burden,the tax reform initiated by the Third Plenum of the 18 th CPC Central Committee mandated increasing the direct tax and reducing the indirect tax as key priorities to improve China's tax structure.

Different Scenarios of Property Taxation Reforms in Italy： Two Compared Proposals

Starting from the premise that Italian real estate taxation is inefficient and unnecessarily complex, the paper suggests two tax reforms. The first proposal puts forward progressive property taxation on the family basis; the second one suggests inferring a property income within the general calculation of the personal income tax. The common features of the two tax schemes are： the use of property market values instead of cadastral rents, a general reduction of the real estate local tax, a strong cutback of the stamp duties and registration fees applied to real estate transfers. A microsimulation model is employed to evaluate the impacts of the proposed taxation schemes. They both show, providing for a constant tax revenue, stronger redistributive effects.

Local Development Fee in Slovak Republic

With the advent of tax and expenditure limitations, state and local governments have been searching for new sources of revenue to maintain or expand public services. The need for new sources of revenue has been particularly acute in localities that have experienced rapid growth. The new act No. 447 of November 20, 2015 on Local Development Fee was approved in Slovakia. The Act comes into force on November 1, 2016. The paper points out possible problems associated with the introduction of the local development fee abroad and discribes the situation in Slovakia.

Sources of Income and Financial Autonomy of Local Self-government

An important feature of local self-government which differs from other public authorities should be the independence of its organs from the government system of administration. The empowerment of local communities, which takes place in all democratic states, has been achieved by giving the guarantee of autonomy to local self-government, including financial autonomy. These are fundamental assumptions of local self-government functioning. The subject of this paper is to present self-government, in the field of shaping the basic sources of public tasks. issues relating to the financial autonomy of loca of its financial supply in cash, enabling the performance

Fairness in Climate Change Mitigation: The Case of Carbon Taxation

Environmental economists have advocated carbon taxation for its efficiency and effectiveness in reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, whether the policy would be fair in any given context needs to be better realized. While the distributive effects of carbon taxation have been widely discussed, a more comprehensive understanding of tax fairness is lacking. This paper reviews the academic literature through the lens of three justice concepts -recognition, procedure, and distribution—to understand the implications of previous studies for fair carbon tax policy-making. Upon examining the relevant literature, the findings highlight the limited evidence concerning recognition and procedural justice in carbon taxation, particularly in developing country context. This calls for more assessments through these perspectives. It also emphasizes the importance of recognition for vulnerable groups, such as women, with an intersectionality approach;a fair policy process through information provision, inclusive representation, fair level playing field;and proportionate burden sharing through context-specific design elements such as targeted revenue use.

省以下财政收入体制与财政收入质量:针对非税收入的研究

提高财政收入质量是健全现代预算制度的重要组成部分。理论研究表明,税收分成比例下降会提高非税收入相对规模、降低财政收入质量,且总量费非税收入有一定扭曲效应。经验研究发现,税收分成每下降1个百分点,地方非税收入规模约增加1.27%,财政收入质量约降低2.02%,这表明财政收入分配体制是影响非税收入规模的重要制度要素。异质性分析表明,国有化程度低和非税收入管理规范的地区非税收入规模变化较小,而提高财政资金审计质量和强化法制化建设有利于提高财政收入质量。本文为提高财政收入质量、建设现代财政制度提供了一定参考。

分税制改革进展、问题及未来改革思考——基于地方视角的分析

1994年分税制改革在“中国奇迹”的创造中发挥了重要作用。本文以X省为例,归纳总结了中央—地方、省—市,市—县的财政管理体制。在现状分析基础上,从地方视角探析现行分税制的问题,包括国内外环境变化对分税制提出新要求、地方税体系建设滞后、对转移支付依赖程度不断提高、地方财政兜底责任较大等,并从激励地方、特别是欠发达地区发展出发,提出新一轮财税体制改革应坚持税制改革先行、加强激励和注重规范。

亚当·斯密的公平观

公平正义在亚当·斯密的理论体系中占有重要位置。在斯密看来,商业社会之所以比过去更“好”,就在于它大幅提高了普通民众的生活水准。斯密并不主张“自由放任”,从不认为人“只追求自己的私利”就能为全社会带来“最大的好处”。亚当·斯密时代,认为穷人本质上品行不端、好逸恶劳,应使其“保持贫穷”是普遍共识,而斯密不仅对穷人抱有深切的同情,并且开启了现代意义上的“分配正义”理念:穷人因“贫穷”本身就有权得到政府救助,这一观念是革命性的。亚当·斯密还主张通过财政税收制度减少不平等,并提出了税收公平原则;他总体上主张比例税,有时还赞成累进税。财政支出方面,亚当·斯密支持主要面向普通民众的公共教育。

央地关系与债务:以空间政治经济学看高质量发展

央地关系改革是化解地方政府债务问题的关键。防范化解中国的地方政府债务风险,短期内应该强化财政纪律和打破中央对地方政府债务的隐性担保(“软预算约束”),长期则应该加快全国统一大市场建设,充分发挥经济集聚功能,优化地方政府债务的空间结构,建立地方财政与实体经济的良性循环。从空间政治经济学视角来看,2015年新《预算法》实施在一定程度上改善了地方政府债务的空间结构,但兼顾化债和发展仍需进一步推动符合长期、全局、多维目标的央地关系改革。在理顺大国治理的空间逻辑基础上,深入推进央地关系改革,有助于地方政府转变增长模式并稳步化解政府债务风险,最终实现区域优势互补的经济高质量发展。

分税制改革视域下的地方政府债务治理:理论辨析与路径展望

本文通过回顾分税制改革的历史沿革、制度特征和学术争鸣,试图厘清分税制改革对地方政府债务治理的影响机制和改革路径。本文认为,分税制改革有效发挥了中央和地方“两个积极性”,初步构建起同社会主义市场经济体制相适应的分权治理框架。从影响效果来看,分税制改革引领的“双重激励”将地方政府行政动员能力和市场增进能力有效结合起来,激励地方政府举债筹资建设了大量市政基础设施;但侧重“事上”而非“安下”的责任约束机制也导致地方政府债务风险不断衍生泛化、变相积聚。本文为推进高质量发展背景下的分税制改革和地方政府债务治理、构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制提供了财权划分、事权配置、行政监察、市场约束等改革战略取向。

财政压力与地方政府策略性行为——基于非税收入竞争视角的考察

基于2011—2018年省级面板数据,采用空间杜宾模型(SDM)考察财政压力对地方政府间非税收入竞争策略性行为的影响。结果表明:财政压力的增加显著削弱了地方政府间非税收入竞争的程度;地方政府在应对财政压力时针对不同类别的非税收入采取了差异化的竞争策略;地方政府倾向于通过提高非税收入负担率以应对财政压力的策略性行为不仅扰乱了地区间公平有序的竞争,而且增加了居民与企业的经济负担。提升财政透明度有助于抑制这一现象。

收入分配视角下唐宋之际两税法的制度变迁及启示

两税法改革开启了“以资产为宗”的新格局,其税制层面的公平性较“以人丁为本”的租庸调制有了明显改进,但政策实践中的赋税不均问题却依然突出。与此同时,“田制不立”和“不抑兼并”成为新的政策取向:一方面,土地交易更加活跃,土地占有趋于集中,富民阶层崛起;另一方面,租佃关系愈加发达,人身依附关系松弛,农民获得更多自由,在一定程度上促进了社会生产力的提高和农商经济的繁荣。当然,富民阶层存在着逃避赋税的强烈动机,而获得更多自由的农民在生产生活上也面临更大的风险。所以,国家需要采取土地清丈和建立以贫民下户为重点的因灾减免救济制度等措施来解决赋税不均问题。历史经验表明,在一定条件下,完备的产权保护制度与税收发挥调节收入分配作用是可以相兼容的,关键在于保护民众发展生产和创造财富的积极性的同时,采取有力措施来维护和落实税收公平原则。