Blog

Fighting Poverty with Taxes

| 21 November 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Inequality, Poverty, Tax Expenditures
One way the U.S. federal income tax system provides low-income families with financial support is through refundable tax credits. Families can claim refundable tax credits even if they do not owe any tax liability, which allows families with the lowest incomes to receive benefits. ... continue reading

In France, Evaluating Tax Expenditure Effectiveness Remains a Challenge

| 16 November 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures
The inability of the French government to ensure that a particular tax benefit reaches its primary goal – i.e. the assessment of public expenditure effectiveness – lies at the heart of the expansion of public subsidies. ... continue reading

Tax Expenditures and the Environment: Strengthening the Spotlight

| 8 November 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Energy, Environment, Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Tax Expenditures
Tax expenditures – government spending through deductions, exemptions, and other benefits granted through the tax code – are significant and have wide ranging environmental implications. A stronger green fiscal policy spotlight on them is critical. ... continue reading

Is It Time To Take Away The Carbon Punch Bowl?

| 5 September 2017
Monetary, Blog | Tags: Climate Change, Financial Stability, Macroprudential Policy
Climate change poses serious financial risks. Perhaps the biggest systemic risk is a disorderly transition to a low carbon economy. As noted in the Bank of England’s ‘response to Climate Change’, current forecasts suggest that to keep global average temperatures below 2 degrees, around two-thirds of ... continue reading

Fiscal Policy and Informality

| 1 September 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Inequality, Pensions, Tax Expenditures
Countries differ from each other in several aspects that need to be considered when designing fiscal policy. The size of the informal sector is a case in point. ... continue reading

Unpacking Patent Boxes

| 26 July 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Patent Boxes, Tax Competition, Tax Expenditures
An intellectual property box is a special lower tax rate for profits associated with intellectual property (IP). There are over twenty around the world, and over the last few years bills have been introduced to the U.S. Congress for a U.S. IP box. IP boxes always ... continue reading

Tax Expenditures. The Big Black Box

| 20 July 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures
According to the federal financial statements 2016, tax expenditures in Switzerland reduced government revenues by 21 to 25 billion Swiss francs. This amounts to 31 to 37 percent of the country’s federal income. ... continue reading

Measuring Tax Expenditures in Developing Countries: What is the Role of the G20?

| 26 May 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Inequality, Tax Competition, Tax Expenditures
For many countries in the developing world, tax exemptions are considered a crucial instrument for stimulating private local investment and, mainly, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. According to the point of view that promotes tax expenditures as a convenient tool for achieving these goals, ... continue reading

Why Monetary Policy Should Go Green

| 19 May 2017
Monetary, Blog | Tags: Climate Change, Collateral Frameworks, Green Finance, QE
Guest Post, FT Alphaville. Monetary policy is rarely a topic in debates on green finance. It should. The €60bn that the European Central Bank is currently injecting into financial markets on a monthly basis are a case in point. Its intervention amounts to nearly three ... continue reading

Trade and Jobs in Europe: The Role of Mode 5 Services Exports

, and | 16 March 2017
Trade, Blog | Tags: Employment, Services Trade
From 1995 to 2011, the EU employment supported by exports of goods and services to the rest of the world grew by 67%, reaching a total of 31 million jobs. In a recent research piece we set out to bring to light some key insights ... continue reading