Tax reform debates in the United States have focused on the question of whether the existing corporate and individual income tax system should be replaced with some form of a national consumption tax. This book contains essays written by internationally recognized tax experts who describe the current state in economic thinking on the issue of whether fundamental tax reform is preferable to continued incremental reform of the existing income tax. The papers were originally commissioned by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, Houston. The collection covers a range of tax policy issues related to consumption tax reforms, including their economic effects, distributional consequences, effects on administrative and compliance costs, transitional issues and the political aspects of fundamental tax reform, and international comparisons. The book will serve as a comprehensive guide to the ongoing tax reform debate to tax policy makers and the general electorate.

No government can be sustained without the ability to tax its citizens. The question then arises how can a nation do so in a way that's fair and equitable to taxpayers while simultaneously promoting economic growth and providing the state with the funds it needs to adequately address the needs of its citizens? This insightful work, featuring contributions from a stellar array of international tax experts and economists, addresses the crucial, relevant issues which developed countries will confront in the early decades of the 21st century: The pursuit of tax reform. Personal tax base: income or consumption? Tax rate scale: equity and efficiency aspects. Business tax reform: structural and design issues. Interjurisdictional issues. Controlling tax avoidance.

Edited by the former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, this illuminating volume presents thoughtful discussion by leading public officials, academics, and corporate executives on what the next generation of fiscal policy holds for us. Contributors look ahead to coming economic, political, and social changes to see how tax policy might, or should, affect the coming events of the 21st century. The result is a fascinating glimpse at key world developments that will affect future tax policies, and what preparations we should make.

Corporate tax reform is in the air. Competitive pressures from globalization, as well as skyrocketing budget deficits, are forcing lawmakers to rethink how America’s largest businesses are taxed. Some want to close “loopholes.” Others want to end all U.S. tax on foreign profits. Some want to lower rates, while still others want to abolish the corporate tax altogether and replace it with an entirely new system. Unlike many other books on tax policy, Corporate Tax Reform: Taxing Profits in the 21st Century is not selling an idea or approaching the issue from a particular political slant. It boils down the complexity of corporate taxation into simple language so readers can make up their own minds about the future of this controversial tax. For too long, the issue of corporate tax reform has been the exclusive domain of lawyers and economists who devote their entire adult lives to studying the tax. Corporate Tax Reform: Taxing Profits in the 21st Century opens the door on these issues to all concerned citizens by providing a compact guide to the economics and politics of the current debate on corporate tax reform. Provides an overview of the corporate tax and the possibilities for reform Discusses the impact on businesspeople and individual taxpayers Boils down complex tax concepts boiled into simple language Spurs lively discussion of the political issues without political bias Includes a discussion of ideas for revamping taxes for individuals, since the corporate and individual tax codes are interrelated

A broad, accessible, evidence-based analysis of tax law and how democratic tax states are confronting today's global digital challenges.

The question of whether to tax income from wealth has sparked debate since our country's inception. Does taxing capital income ensure the progressivity of our system or merely discourage saving? Would switching our tax code to one that taxes only consumption be more efficient or only burden middle- and low-income people? And if we were to radically reform the way America taxes its citizens, how could we ensure that vital revenue would not be lost? Some analysts would even argue that, under our present byzantine tax system, we don't really tax capital income at all. In this volume, eminent economists analyze the problems associated with taxing capital income and propose policy solutions, which are then challenged by their peers in informed commentary. It may not settle the debate, but policymakers, scholars, and the public will find a wealth of information and ideas to consider.

Members of the National Academy of Social Insurance explain basic facts and offer an understanding of the complexities surrounding Social Security, for educators, students, journalists, policymakers, and the general public. After a historical and conceptual overview section, chapters address commonly asked questions about Social Security, considering issues such as means testing and the economic role of trust funds. Other sections examine institutional and administrative issues, and offer alternative perspectives. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR