This Handbook entry presents a conceptual, normative overview of the subject of taxation. It emphasizes the relationships among the main functions of taxation—notably, raising revenue, redistributing income, and correcting externalities—and the mapping between these functions and various...

This chapter reviews the theory of the voluntary public and private redistribution of wealth elaborated by economic analysis in the last forty years or so. The central object of the theory is altruistic gift-giving, construed as benevolent voluntary redistribution of income or wealth. The theory...

Social disparities have a common and consistent character in the vast majority of contemporary countries. The level of income inequality in OECD countries has grown in the past 30 years and is still rising. Taxes and tax systems, aside from social transfers, are fiscal instruments widely used in...

The book offers a comprehensive treatment of tax theory and policy. It surveys the German tax system, portrays tax history, and describes principles of tax administration and the construction of schedules. Tax shifting, optimal taxation theory, and questions of tax justice are considered in...

In this paper we analyse what should be the effects of the introduction of a flat rate tax in Belgium. According to the principles of a flat rate tax system, allowances, credits and exemptions that are considered as tax expenditures are repealed and the progressive tax schedule is replaced by a...

For more than half a century, scholars and international agencies have been making recommendations about taxation in developing countries. The advice economists have offered to developing countries has changed over time, particularly regarding income and consumption taxes. Why? What do we know...

The “smartest” development policy needs to be underpinned by “smart” tax policy. However, the best tax policy in the world is worth little if it cannot be implemented effectively. What can be done, to a considerable extent, inevitably determines what is done. Increasing tax revenues...

A number of European countries have recently introduced tax reforms inspired by the concept of flat taxes. This article analyses the principal aspects of these reforms in the light of the original theoretical approach by Hal and Rabushka. The rapid overview of the principle elements of the tax...

Although economic growth continued to be lukewarm in 2021, tax revenue increased significantly, even exceeding the pre-crisis level despite economic policy measures associated with revenue losses. During the 2008-2011 global financial crisis, tax revenue followed a different path: Its recovery...

Although economic growth continued to be lukewarm in 2021, tax revenue increased significantly, even exceeding the pre-crisis level despite economic policy measures associated with revenue losses. During the 2008-2011 global financial crisis, tax revenue followed a different path: Its recovery...