Extensive research has shown that few robust results regarding the optimal tax structure are available. Moreover, the stylised models used in optimal tax analyses are not appropriate for practical policy advice. This paper proposes a method of examining optimal marginal income tax reforms using...

This paper provides a unified framework in which to examine income and consumption tax revenue elasticities. In addition, new results are established in relation to consumption taxes. These results help to provide a better understanding of the determinants of the revenue responsiveness...

The present paper considers the question of just how redistributive it is possible to make consumption taxes, by using differential rates and exemptions.

We use a model of intertemporal tax smoothing to examine long run data on fiscal policy in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. We find that the intertemporal model provides a good description of tax policy for the United States but is rejected for Australia and for the UK.

This paper has examined the decomposition of the redistributive effect of indirect taxation into vertical , horizontal equity and re-ranking effects.

In New Zealand, excise taxes are levied on three commodity groups: alcohol, tobacco and petrol. The 2001 Tax Review, published by the New Zealand Treasury, argued that excises are inequitable and inefficient, and advised that these taxes should be removed and the revenue replaced by raising the...

This paper examines indirect tax reform in Australia using the method developed by Anmad and Stern (1984). It is usual, incalculating the changes in demand that would result from marginal tax reform, to use aggregate own- and cross-price demand elasticities.

Tax compliance is modelled as a Bayesian Nash equilibrium in a costly state verification game with imperfect auditing. Neither the tax payer nor the auditor can measure the tax payer's true liability precisely: they observe independent noisy signals.

The welfare effects of several indirect tax reforms in Australia are examined for a number of types of household in a range of income groups. The welfare changes, measured using equivalent variations, are based on the use of the linear expenditure system, where parameters are different in each...

This paper examines the question of whether indirect tax rates should be uniform using four different modelling strategies. First, marginal tax reform is examined. Second, the welfare effects of a partial shift from the current indirect tax system in Australia towards a goods and services tax...