Federal Tax Policy

Federal Tax Policy PDF

Author: Joseph A. Pechman

Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Published: 1983

Total Pages: 440

ISBN-13:

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This fifth edition of Federal Tax Policy, like its predecessors, is intended to explain such issues so that the interested citizen may better understand and contribute to public discussion of tax policy. This edition reflects tax developments between 1983 and 1987 and emphasizes the newer issues: comprehensive income taxation, the effects of taxation on economic incentives, inflation adjustments for income tax purposes, the relative merits of graduated income taxes and expenditure taxes, and changes in the fiscal relations between the federal and the state and local governments.

Tax Policy, Leverage and Macroeconomic Stability

Tax Policy, Leverage and Macroeconomic Stability PDF

Author: International Monetary Fund. Fiscal Affairs Dept.

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2016-12-10

Total Pages: 78

ISBN-13: 1498345204

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Risks to macroeconomic stability posed by excessive private leverage are significantly amplified by tax distortions. ‘Debt bias’ (tax provisions favoring finance by debt rather than equity) has increased leverage in both the household and corporate sectors, and is now widely recognized as a significant macroeconomic concern. This paper presents new evidence of the extent of debt bias, including estimates for banks and non-bank financial institutions both before and after the global financial crisis. It presents policy options to alleviate debt bias, and assesses their effectiveness. The paper finds that thin capitalization rules restricting interest deductibility have only partially been able to address debt bias, but that an allowance for corporate equity has generally proved effective. The paper concludes that debt bias should feature prominently in countries’ tax reform plans in the coming years.