@phdthesis{Bach2010,
  author    = {Bach, Stefan},
  title     = {Empirical studies on tax distribution and tax reform in Germany},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-60289},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {This professorial dissertation thesis collects several empirical studies on tax distribution and tax reform in Germany. Chapter 2 deals with two studies on effective income taxation, based on representative micro data sets from tax statistics. The first study analyses the effective income taxation at the individual level, in particular with respect to the top incomes. It is based on an integrated micro data file of household survey data and income tax statistics, which captures the entire income distribution up to the very top. Despite substantial tax base erosion and reductions of top tax rates, the German personal income tax has remained effectively progressive. The distribution of the tax burden is highly concentrated and the German economic elite is still taxed relatively heavily, even though the effective tax rate for this group has significantly declined. The second study of Chapter 2 highlights the effective income taxation of functional income sources, such as labor income, business and capital income, etc. Using income tax micro data and microsimulation models, we allocate the individual income tax liability to the respective income sources, according to different apportionment schemes accounting for losses. We find that the choice of the apportionment scheme markedly affects the tax shares of income sources and implicit tax rates, in particular those of capital income. Income types without significant losses such as labor income or transfer incomes show higher tax shares and implicit tax rates if we account for losses. The opposite is true for capital income, in particular for income from renting and leasing. Chapter 3 presents two studies on business taxation, based on representative micro data sets from tax statistics and the microsimulation model BizTax. The first part provides a study on fundamental reform options for the German local business tax. We find that today's high concentration of local business tax revenues on corporations with high profits decreases if the tax base is broadened by integrating more taxpayers and by including more elements of business value added. The reform scenarios with a broader tax base distribute the local business tax revenue per capita more equally across regional categories. The second study of Chapter 3 discusses the macroeconomic performance of business taxation against the background of corporate income. A comparison of the tax base reported in tax statistics with the macroeconomic corporate income from national accounts gives hints to considerable tax base erosion. The average implicit tax rate on corporate income was around 20 percent since 2001, and thus falling considerably short of statutory tax rates and effective tax rates discussed in the literature. For lack of detailed accounting data it is hard to give precise reasons for the presumptive tax base erosion. Chapter 4 deals with several assessment studies on the ecological tax reform implemented in Germany as of 1999. First, we describe the scientific, ideological, and political background of the ecological tax reform. Further, we present the main findings of a first systematic impact analysis. We employ two macroeconomic models, an econometric input-output model and a recursive-dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Both models show that Germany's ecological tax reform helps to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions without having a substantial adverse effect on overall economic growth. It could have a slightly positive effect on employment. The reform's impact on the business sector and the effects of special provisions granted to agriculture and the goods and materials sectors are outlined in a further study. The special provisions avoid higher tax burdens on the energy-intensive production. However, they widely reduce the marginal tax rates and thus the incentives to energy saving. Though the reform of special provisions 2003 increased the overall tax burden of the energy-intensive industry, the enlarged eligibility for tax rebates neutralizes the ecologic incentives. Based on the Income and Consumption Survey of 2003, we have analyzed the distributional impact of the ecological tax reform. The increased energy taxes show a clear regressive impact relative to disposable income. Families with children face a higher tax burden relative to household income. The reduction of pension contributions and the automatic adjustment of social security transfers widely mitigate this regressive impact. Households with low income or with many children nevertheless bear a slight increase in tax burden. Refunding the eco tax revenue by an eco bonus would make the reform clearly progressive.},
  language  = {en}
}
@techreport{OPUS4-4236,
  type      = {Working Paper},
  title     = {Tax systems and tax harmonisation in the East African Community (EAC)},
  series = {Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeitr{\"a}ge},
  journal   = {Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeitr{\"a}ge},
  number    = {60},
  editor    = {Petersen, Hans-Georg},
  issn      = {1864-1431},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-44693},
  pages     = {128},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {In the first part of the report of the GTZ expert group an overview on the basics of integration and tax harmonisation within a common market is given. Chapter II. concentrates on the problems of national and international tax law regarding double taxation before the harmonisation process within the EU is described in detail. This process is not a best practice example but at least the experiences made in the course of the last five decades are interesting enough and might contribute important information for regions, which more or less recently have started a similar endeavour. The harmonisation needs are discussed for value added taxation (VAT), excise taxation, and income taxation. The problems of tax administrations, procedures laws, taxpayers' rights and obligations as well as tax compliance are also taken into consideration. The second part of the study reviews the national tax systems within the EAC member countries. Before the single taxes are described in more detail, the macroeconomic situation is illuminated by some basic figures and the current stand of the inner-community integration analysed. Then the single tax bases and tax rates are confronted to shed some light on the necessities for the development of a common market within the near future. Again the value added tax laws, excise taxes and income taxes are discussed in detail, while regarding the latter the focus is on company taxation. For a better systematic analysis the national tax laws are confronted within an overview. The chapter is closed with a summary of the tax rates applied and a rough estimation of the tax burdens within the Partner States. The third part of this report contains the policy recommendations of the expert group following the same structures as the chapters before and presenting the results for the VAT, the excises and the corporate income tax (CIT). Additionally the requirements for tax procedures and administration as well as problems of transparency and information exchange are discussed in detail before the strategic recommendations are derived in close relation to the experiences made within the EU harmonisation process. The recommendations are based on the following normative arguments: (1) Tax harmonisation is a basic requirement for economic integration. (2) Equality of taxation is an imperative of tax justice and demands the avoidance of double taxation as well as the combat of tax evasion and corruption. (3) The avoidance of harmful tax competition between the Partner States. (4) The strengthening of taxpayers' rights in tax procedures. Hence, all kinds of income, goods and services should be taxed once and only once.},
  language  = {en}
}
@techreport{Petersen2008,
  type      = {Working Paper},
  author    = {Petersen, Hans-Georg},
  title     = {Integration, decentralization, taxation, and revenue sharing},
  series = {Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeitr{\"a}ge},
  journal   = {Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeitr{\"a}ge},
  number    = {57},
  issn      = {1864-1431},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-27367},
  pages     = {41},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {The paper tries to shed some light on the problems of centralization and decentralization within an economic union and the federal member states. Integration and decentralization are not opposite policy strategies but both meaningful if the single public goods and services supplies are analyzed in more detail. Both strategies doubtlessly have advantages, which can be realized if the manifold possibilities are combined in an efficient approach of good governance. Best practice approaches in inter- or supra-national integration, fiscal federalism and taxation do exist and have to be successfully implemented. Obviously such a modern fiscal policy has to be accompanied by an appropriate monetary policy, which in an economic union has to be carried out by an independent central bank as one of the necessary countervailing powers in a democratic setting. A modern fiscal policy strategy efficiently controls budget deficits, which naturally have to be limited to finance reliable public investments. Such strategy has to be safeguarded through modern methods of budgeting and fiscal planning. Modern public management with a clear code of conduct for the government officials ensures corruption free administration.},
  language  = {de}
}
@book{Petersen2007,
  author    = {Petersen, Hans-Georg},
  title     = {Nachhaltigkeit in Finanz- und Sozialpolitik : Probleme und L{\"o}sungsans{\"a}tze f{\"u}r denTransformationsprozess in Georgien},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18495},
  publisher      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {The paper describes the content of the project "Tax-/Transfer-Reform and Fiscal Responsibility: Pathways to a Sustainable Fiscal Policy in Georgia", which is supported for the period Fall 2005 to Spring 2008 by the VolkswagenStiftung. Within the project a knowledgetransfer is organized, concentrating on state theory, tax and transfer reform, revenue sharing as well as fiscal equalization. A short overview on the current situation in Georgia is presented. Then the main project components - tax reform, tax revenue estimation and microsimulation - are briefly discussed.},
  language  = {de}
}
@book{SilagadzeGelaschwili2007,
  author    = {Silagadze, Avtandil and Gelaschwili, Simon},
  title     = {Die Entwicklung der Finanzpolitik in Georgien},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18500},
  publisher      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {This paper gives an outline of the evolution of fiscal policy in Georgia. Starting in the mid-1990s, the authors break the recent Georgian history into two main periods, separated by the Rose Revolution of 2003. The first period was marked by some first efforts to generate and stabilize tax revenues, which were largely offset by the financial crisis of 1998. The Georgian budget at that time was largely financed by foreign sources. Following the Rose Revolution the country's financial situation has improved, hyperinflation was overcome and public revenues have steadily increased due to administrative changes and tax law reforms.},
  language  = {de}
}