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Shedding Light on Hidden Government Spending: Tax Expenditures

and | 20 December 2017
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Tax Expenditures
Tax expenditures (TEs) are used by governments around the world to promote public policy objectives. Examples include tax deductions on mortgage interest to encourage home ownership and preferential tax treatment of pension savings. ... continue reading

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