Program: Fiscal

How Much Revenue Does Kosovo Forgo Through Tax Expenditures? We don’t know!

| 21 April 2022
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures, Transparency
The traditional way of thinking about how states finance projects is as follows: first, governments collect revenue (through taxes, borrowing, payments, and fines) and then this revenue is spent through the budget process. However, governments may choose to support various economic sectors, activities, or groups of ... continue reading

Is It Time to Rationalize Tax Expenditures?

, , and | 19 April 2022
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures, Tax Reform
As developing countries recover from the pandemic, they will need to bring their public finances to a more sustainable position, by streamlining public spending and strengthening the revenue base. The need to mobilize additional resources has been exacerbated by the recent economic turmoil triggered by ... continue reading

G7 Countries Must Urgently Phase Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies

, and | 8 April 2022
Fiscal, Policy Briefs | Tags: Climate Change, Fossil Fuel Subsidies
The world’s governments have pledged to fight climate change, yet many still subsidize fossil fuels, the combustion of which increases GHG emissions. Phasing out these subsidies is thus vital to combating climate change. What this Policy Brief proposes is that G7 Governments reaffirm their commitment ... continue reading

The Global Tax Deal and Tax Incentives: What if the Cure Is Worse Than the Disease?

| 18 March 2022
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Minimum Tax Rate, Tax Expenditures, Tax Incentives
The global tax deal reached in October 2021 is a milestone in international tax coordination. With 137 out of 141 jurisdictions in the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) now participating in the agreement, there is no doubt about its significance. ... continue reading

From Budgetary to Tax Expenditures: Tackling Social Protection in Quebec, Canada

, and | 7 January 2022
Fiscal, Discussion Notes | Tags: Social Protection, Tax Expenditures
In his 2018 article "Reimagining Social Protection" Michal Rutkowski, the World Bank's Global Director for Social Protection and Jobs, highlighted the need for new social protection systems that retain their original purpose of fighting poverty, helping households manage uncertainty, and ultimately sparking a more efficient ... continue reading

Is the OECD/G20 International Corporate Tax Reform Fair?

| 26 November 2021
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Corporate Tax, Developing Countries, Minimum Tax Rate, Tax Competition
On October 8th, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced that 136 countries have adopted its two-pillar proposal to reform the taxation of multinational enterprises (MNEs). Pillar One applies to MNEs with sales in excess of $20bn and profits over 10%. It shifts the ... continue reading

Tax Expenditures in the Balkans: Time to Open the Black Box

| 28 October 2021
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures, Tax Reform
The traditional way of thinking about government expenditure goes as follows: first, governments collect revenue (through taxes, borrowing, or other means such as fines and penalties) and then they spend that revenue through the budget process. However, governments can also choose to support different economic ... continue reading

Social Tax Expenditures: The Case of Quebec

, , and | 5 October 2021
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Social Protection, Tax Expenditures
While the world is weathering the COVID-19 storm, the role of sound social protection systems has become even more crucial. Designing social protection expenditures that are fit for purpose and that contribute to coming back stronger while leaving no one behind is imperative. Public intervention ... continue reading

Tax Expenditures—The $1.5 Trillion Elephant in the (Budget) Room

and | 16 September 2021
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Income Tax, Inequality, Tax Expenditures
The Biden administration FY 2022 Budget proposal includes $2.4 trillion of additional revenue over the next 10 years. Higher tax rates on high-income individuals and corporations account for $990 billion. At the same time, the budget proposes $1.35 trillion of new tax expenditures from exemptions, ... continue reading

Tax Expenditures and Domestic Revenue Mobilisation

9-11 November 2021 | Online
Fiscal, Workshops | Tags: Domestic Revenue Mobilization, Informality, Tax Expenditures, Tax Reform
Tax expenditures (TEs) are tax benefits that governments use worldwide to pursue various policy goals such as attracting investment, boosting innovation and fighting poverty. TEs are costly, as they lower government revenue and the tax liability of the beneficiary. The global average of tax revenues ... continue reading