Publications

Invisible Costs: The Transparency Gap in Japan’s Tax Benefits

and | 20 September 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Japan, Tax Expenditures
Tax expenditures include tax credits, exemptions, deductions and other reductions in tax liabilities intended to promote specific policy goals. Japan stands out as one of only two G20 countries, alongside Saudi Arabia, that does not report the cost of such tax benefits in a comprehensive ... continue reading

How California Leaders Can Improve the Oversight and Evaluation of State Tax Expenditures

| 6 September 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures, United States
In California, tax expenditures — defined in state law as a “credit, deduction, exclusion, exemption, or any other tax benefit as provided for by the state” — represent a significant revenue cost to the state. In recent years, the estimated cost to the state’s General ... continue reading

Addressing Gender Disparities in Tax Expenditures

, and | 3 September 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Gender, Inequality, Tax Expenditures
Understanding the interaction between tax expenditures and gender-based inequalities is essential to ensure that the tax system is fair and equitable – including gender equality in tax matters and the economy more broadly. ... continue reading

Rationalizing Fiscal Incentives in the Philippines: A Three-Decade Journey

| 12 August 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures, The Philippines
As governments around the globe seek to safeguard fiscal space, the question on whether the tax benefits they offer are effective, is becoming ever more critical. In the Philippines, the push for the rationalization of fiscal incentives dates back nearly thirty years... ... continue reading

Leapfrogging to a New Energy Future: Economic Policies for Affordable, Secure and Clean Energy in Ukraine

and | 24 July 2024
Fiscal, Policy Briefs | Tags: Energy, Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Renewables, Ukraine
With well-designed reforms, international support, private investment – and, crucially, peace – Ukraine can leapfrog to a sustainable energy future. At present, decisionmakers in the energy sector are fighting day-to-day battles to keep the lights on and houses warm. Winning these daily battles and setting ... continue reading

Transition and Systemic Risk in the South African Banking Sector: Assessment and Macroprudential Options

, and | 22 July 2024
Monetary, Research Papers | Tags: Central Banks, Climate Risks, Financial Stability, Macroprudential Policy, South Africa
This paper presents the main transition risks for the South African banking sector, highlighting that the coal value chain is central to these risks. It assesses the banking system’s exposure to transition risks in the corporate sector, showing that they are material and widespread. ... continue reading

Tax Expenditure Country Reports. Unveiling Tax Expenditures at the Country Level

and | 9 July 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: GTED, GTETI, Tax Expenditures
As shown by the Global Tax Expenditures Transparency Index (GTETI) the quality and scope of TE reporting is highly heterogeneous across jurisdictions, which makes cross-country comparability even trickier. The new series will promote deeper discussions of TE regimes, ultimately enhancing the quality and quantity of ... continue reading

Tax Expenditures Country Report: The Netherlands

| 9 July 2024
Fiscal, Discussion Notes | Tags: GTED, GTETI, Tax Expenditures, The Netherlands
Tax expenditures (TEs) in the Netherlands represent a significant portion of government spending, amounting to 15% of GDP in 2022. These provisions include deviations from the standard tax base, rates, and special credits across various taxes, such as Personal Income Tax (PIT), Corporate Income Tax ... continue reading

To Advance Trade Policy, Strengthen the Role of Parliaments

| 5 July 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Trade Agreements
In trade policy, parliaments generally play a lesser or even inexistent role. Strengthening their involvement can advance trade policymaking and help better align it with the public interest. This enhanced role should span the whole policy process. ... continue reading

Missing Dollars – Illicit Financial Flows from Commodity Trade

and | 19 June 2024
Fiscal, Monetary, Trade, Books | Tags: Commodities, Governing Finance, Tax Competition, Tax Expenditures
The book sheds new light on issues such as addressing push and pull factors through domestic and international policy measures, the preferences of key stakeholders for short-term fixes versus long-term policy reforms, and prescriptive approaches and other options to address tax base erosion in resource-rich ... continue reading