This study provides the first set of empirical evidence on the determinants of social benefits received by urban families in China and the impact on income inequality using the China Household Income Project (CHIP) 1988 and 2002 data. It finds that the total urban social benefits strongly targeted the bottom pre-tax pre-transfer income decile. Cash transfers were negatively associated with inco...

Almost everyone understands that budget fluctuations have an impact on software development, but it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of the impact and all the causes. This paper examines government sponsored software development with a focus on how funding gaps affect productivity and product delivery delay. A system dynamics model is developed and the results generated from that model ar...

China’s current fiscal system is largely decentralized while its governance structure is rather centralized with strong top-down mandates and a homogenous governance structure. Due to large differences in initial economic structures and revenue bases, the implicit tax rate and fiscal burdens to support the functioning of local government vary significantly across jurisdictions. Regions initiall...

This paper aims at clearing up some misunderstandings about the social impacts of carbon taxes that proved to be a decisive obstacle to their further consideration in public debates. It highlights the gap between the cost of a carbon tax reform as it is spontaneously perceived by the taxpayers and the reality of its ultimate consequences: the real impact on households’ poverty and inequalities ...

In this paper we characterize, both theoretically and quantiatively, the optimal mix of progressive income taxes and education subsidies in a model with endogeous human capital formation, borrowing constraints and income risk.

The traditional view that excise taxes are regressive has been challenged. I document the history of the term regressive tax, show that traditional definitions have always found cigarette taxes to be regressive, and illustrate the implications of the greater price responsiveness observed among the poor. I explain the different definitions of tax burden: accounting, welfare-based willingness to ...

Thirty years ago, Wall published ?Exergy Ecology Democracy - Concepts of a vital society or proposal for an exergy tax?. This paper discusses this milestone contribution by Wall. It has traced path toward economic, environmental and societal sustainability proposed as robust indicator measuring progress. is divided into two parts. The first focuses on better understanding Wall?s role in today?s...