A common answer to the financial challenges of green transformation and the shortcomings of the current taxation system is the “double dividend approach”. Environmental taxes should either feed the public purse in o...A common answer to the financial challenges of green transformation and the shortcomings of the current taxation system is the “double dividend approach”. Environmental taxes should either feed the public purse in order to remove other distorting taxes, or directly contribute to financing green transformation. Germany adopted the former approach. However, this article argues, by using the example of Germany, that “good taxes” in terms of public finance should be neutral in terms of environmental protection and vice versa. Neutral taxation in terms of environmental impacts can be best achieved by applying the “Henry George principle”. Additionally, neutral taxation in terms of public finance is best achieved if the revenues from environmental taxes are redistributed to the citizens as an ecological basic income. Thus, distortive effects of environmental charges in terms of distribution and political decision-making might be removed. However, such a financial framework could be introduced step by step, starting with a tax shift.展开更多
The paper focuses on a comparison of two contrasting approaches： having a single universal currency in a given fiscal area or supporting a concurrent presence of more competing currencies of different types. A system...The paper focuses on a comparison of two contrasting approaches： having a single universal currency in a given fiscal area or supporting a concurrent presence of more competing currencies of different types. A systemic analysis （based on studying both conventional and unorthodox literature） of the modern monetary system points out that the very type of money that is used suffers internal errors that make a crisis inevitable. The indebtedness is systemic and unavoidable in a currency that is issued as a liability. Parallel currencies are proposed as a general solution. A specific solution, including a redefined national currency, is offered too, with an outline of its possible experimental verification. Such a system could help to prevent the next economic crisis, mitigate it, or at least facilitate its leaving. The paper also deals with criticism that is held against the idea of concurrent currencies.展开更多
文摘A common answer to the financial challenges of green transformation and the shortcomings of the current taxation system is the “double dividend approach”. Environmental taxes should either feed the public purse in order to remove other distorting taxes, or directly contribute to financing green transformation. Germany adopted the former approach. However, this article argues, by using the example of Germany, that “good taxes” in terms of public finance should be neutral in terms of environmental protection and vice versa. Neutral taxation in terms of environmental impacts can be best achieved by applying the “Henry George principle”. Additionally, neutral taxation in terms of public finance is best achieved if the revenues from environmental taxes are redistributed to the citizens as an ecological basic income. Thus, distortive effects of environmental charges in terms of distribution and political decision-making might be removed. However, such a financial framework could be introduced step by step, starting with a tax shift.
文摘The paper focuses on a comparison of two contrasting approaches： having a single universal currency in a given fiscal area or supporting a concurrent presence of more competing currencies of different types. A systemic analysis （based on studying both conventional and unorthodox literature） of the modern monetary system points out that the very type of money that is used suffers internal errors that make a crisis inevitable. The indebtedness is systemic and unavoidable in a currency that is issued as a liability. Parallel currencies are proposed as a general solution. A specific solution, including a redefined national currency, is offered too, with an outline of its possible experimental verification. Such a system could help to prevent the next economic crisis, mitigate it, or at least facilitate its leaving. The paper also deals with criticism that is held against the idea of concurrent currencies.
