In this paper we discuss some recent critical literature on VAT in developing countries relating to its revenue productivity, its equity, and its impact on the development of the formal economy. Illustrating our argument with reference to two recent country studies (of Ukraine and Jamaica) we...

Since independence, Ukraine has tried to function with the system of public finance it inherited from Soviet times. Experience has demonstrated that this system, based on an outdated budget law of 1996, has not served Ukraine well and that it has become increasingly inappropriate for an economy...

Individuals in most all countries face a wide range of direct taxes on their income, especially variants of the individual income tax and payroll taxes. For the income tax, attempts are often made to reduce the compliance and administrative costs of the tax by using “presumptive” or...

Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan have all carried-out comprehensive reforms of their inter-governmental fiscal systems in the decade since the inception of transition; and all three countries are in the process of considering or implementing far-reaching “second-generation” reforms in this...

Individuals in most all countries face a wide range of direct taxes on their income, especially variants of the individual income tax (IIT) and payroll taxes. For the IIT, attempts are often made to reduce the compliance and administrative costs of the tax (among other reasons) by using...