The Japanese tax system applies relatively low marginal tax rates on most economic activities which, in combination … with moderate tax elasticities of the bases, indicate that the overall distortion from the tax system (the excess burden …) is probably modest compared with other OECD countries. Recent sizeable reductions in statutory marginal tax rates in both …

This paper examines the relationship between tax structures and economic growth by entering indicators of the tax … growth than taxes on consumption and property. More precisely, the findings allow the establishment of a ranking of tax …-oriented tax reform would be to shift part of the revenue base towards recurrent property and consumption taxes and away from …

After the radical reforms undertaken in the 1980s, the NZ tax system has long been regarded as one of most efficient … within the OECD, and is based on a comprehensive income approach. Looking forward, the country will require a tax regime that … clear long-term direction for the tax system to guide reforms. There are at least two broad options that are worth …

New Zealand’s tax system is one of the most neutral and efficient in the OECD. Bases are generally broad and rates are … moderate. The full imputation system for dividend payments works to reduce tax distortions for corporate financing decisions …, while efficiency in corporate investment decisions is encouraged by the low level of targeted tax incentives. The tax system …

This paper discusses the tax system in the Czech Republic and offers some specific suggestions for reform. Viewed in …: eliminating the tax bias in favour of self-employed work forms; substantially reducing the number of goods and services subject to … the reduced VAT rate; lowering social security contributions and increasing reliance on the personal income tax system. In …

The tax burden in Korea is among the lowest in the OECD area, mainly reflecting that the social safety net is at an … early stage of development. The low tax burden implies limited tax induced economic distortions but as expenditure pressures … will mount in the future, neutrality and efficiency of the tax system will have to be substantially improved if more …

This paper reviews tax policy initiatives and the scope for further reform in Norway. Norway faces the challenge of … containing expenditure to at least avoid future increases in the tax burden, which is already above the OECD average. The … favourable tax regimes for some industries imply that the fully taxed sectors carry a comparatively higher burden, distorting …

The Mexican tax system encompasses a number of commendable features and disincentives to work, save and invest appear … efficiency and equity of the system and contribute to the fact that Mexico has by far the lowest level of tax revenues in … the tax preferences for agriculture, fisheries, publishing and land transportation; substantially reducing the vast number …

The Portuguese tax system has developed positively in the past decade. Following the 1989 tax reform, tax bases have … been broadened and statutory tax rates lowered. The overall tax burden is not high by international comparison and the tax … performance of the tax system should include: further improving transparency and reliability of the tax system, while giving …

There are only a few OECD Member countries with a lower tax take than the United States. Nonetheless there are a number … not always allocated to the area where they have the highest return, as there are large variations in the tax on capital …, a number of proposals have been made to reduce the tax burden on saving, by replacing the income tax with a consumption …