We provide a novel justification for a financial transaction tax for economies, where agents face stochastic consumption opportunities. A financial transaction tax makes it more costly for agents to readjust their portfolios of liquid and illiquid assets in response to these liquidity shocks,...

In 2011, the European Commission presented its proposal for an EU financial transaction tax (FTT). This article analyzes the recent developments as regards the approval of that EU FTT, and the main concerns that the proposed tax gives rise to, considering in particular its characteristics as a...

While politically attractive in order to generate tax revenues, the effects of a financial transaction tax (FTT) are scientifically disputed, not the least because seemingly small details of its implementation may matter a lot. In this paper, we provide experimental evidence on the different...

The article examines the recent high-level policy proposals to establish a fiscal capacity for the euro zone and discusses the relationship between taxing and spending in the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) by analysing the need and possibility to levy taxes at the supranational level to...

Why it won't work and will damage the economyExecutive summaryThere is strong economic evidence that the proposed Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) would not increase the amount of tax revenue collected by governments. In fact it would reduce total tax revenue by shrinking the economy.Workers and...

Five years after the onset of the global financial crisis, Europe's financial system remains vulnerable to systemic threats. As part of continuing reform efforts, the European Commission has proposed levying a tax on financial transactions such as sales or exchanges of securities. This Essay...

Elf Euroländer haben beschlossen, auf Basis eines EU-Richtlinienentwurfs eine Finanztransaktionssteuer einzuführen. Der Autor untersucht hier das zugrunde liegende Konzept und die Gestaltungsparameter. Die verzerrende Wirkung dieser Steuer hält er für gering, das Aufkommen wird wohl nicht...

Es vergeht kaum ein Tag, an dem nicht auf nationaler, europäischer oder globaler Ebene irgendeine neue Finanzmarktregulierung vorgeschlagen oder eingeführt wird. Ein Zusammenhang mit den Ursachen der Krise ist oft kaum mehr zu erkennen. Die Frage müsste aber doch sein: Welche Reformen wären...