The economic crisis that erupted in 2008 has prompted many countries to rethink, and several already to reform, the taxation of financial institutions. The underlying analytical issues, however, have received almost no attention in the public finance literature. This article explores the...

Russia dramatically reduced its higher rates of personal income tax (PIT) in 2001 establishing a single marginal rate at the low level of 13 percent. In the following year, real revenue from the PIT actually increased by about 26 percent. This ''flat tax'' experience has attracted much attention...

With the public finances of many developing and emerging market countries still heavily dependent on trade tax revenues, further trade liberalization may be hindered unless they are able to develop alternative sources of revenue. While there is now a well-established body of theory and policy...