Finanzwissenschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge
ISSN (print) 0948-7549
ISSN (online) 1864-1431
URN urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-series-115
Herausgegeben von
Universität Potsdam, Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Lehrstuhl für Finanzwissenschaft
ISSN (online) 1864-1431
URN urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-series-115
Herausgegeben von
Universität Potsdam, Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Lehrstuhl für Finanzwissenschaft
Filtern
Volltext vorhanden
- ja (21)
Dokumenttyp
- Arbeitspapier (21) (entfernen)
Schlagworte
- fiscal federalism (3)
- human capital (3)
- lifetime income (3)
- taxation (3)
- tuition fees (3)
- centralization (2)
- decentralization (2)
- education return (2)
- ethnic differences (2)
- fiscal planning (2)
Institut
- Wirtschaftswissenschaften (21)
- Extern (4)
53
The paper describes the exchange program in between the University of Wisconsin/ Milwaukee and the University of Potsdam in the field of economics. It discusses in detail the development of the program, including the problems and challenges. Additionally a brief description of the curriculum is presented. Then the future possibilities of the Transatlantic Degree Program (TDP) are discussed and the influences and problems of the Bologna process analysed.
48
Many European countries have experienced a significant increase of unemployment in recent years. This paper reviews several theoretical models that try to explain this phenomenon. Predominantly, these models claim a link between the poor performance of European labor markets and the high level of market regulation. Commonly referred to as the Eurosclerosis debate, prominent approaches consider insider-outsider relationships, search-models, and the influence of hiring and firing costs on equilibrium employment. The paper presents empirical evidence of each model and studies the relevance of the identified rigidities as a determinant of high unemployment in Europe. Furthermore, a case study analyzes the unemployment problem in Germany and critically discusses new reform efforts. In particular this section analyzes whether the recently enacted Hartz reforms can induce higher employment.
60
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.
45
Contents: Actors, Markets and Interest Groups in Health Services Private and Social Health Insurance in a Simple Model Misallocation and Malpractice in Social Health Care and Insurances -The UK Health Care System -The German Social Health Insurance System -Current Discussions: Intertemporal Perspective and Fundamental Change Interplay of Public and Private Health Insurance: Lessons for Countries in Transition Summary: The Necessary Steps to a Fundamental Reform
51
Studiengebühren
(2006)
Inhalt: Grundsystematik und Kostenkomponenten der Hochschulbildung -Grundstruktur der Hochschulbildung -Kostenkomponenten eines Hochschulstudiums Status Quo der Finanzierung der Hochschulbildung in Deutschland Das Pro und Kontra der Gebührenlösung Alternative Finanzierungsmodelle -Voll- oder Teilkostenfinanzierung -Staatliche und private Finanzierungsanteile -Pauschale oder differenzierte Kostenanlastung -Vor- oder nachgelagerte Studienfinanzierung: private Kreditfinanzierungsprogramme, staatliche Kreditfinanzierungsprogramme, nachgelagerte Finanzierungssysteme im Ausland Sind Änderungen in der Finanzierung notwendig und gerechtfertigt?
61
Steuern in Fragilen Staaten
(2010)
Fragile states are characterized by institutions which do not have the political will or ability to reduce poverty in the interests of their citizen, to establish basic social security, to promote a successful development process, and to guarantee security and human rights. The regional disintegration processes after the period of imperialism and the fall of the iron curtain have created many new states, which still are politically unstable and unable for a sustainable development. In the literature such states are describes as "weak", "failing or failed", "collapsed", "conflict or post-conflict" - dependant on the extent of the particular state failure. Several indicators try to describe such states and partly allow for projections of the future development. Then the role of taxation is discussed in detail before recommendations for the development cooperation are presented. Obviously taxation plays a key role for the democratization process in fragile states.
54
This paper gives a review on the theoretical foundation for fiscal decentralisation and a status quo analysis of the intergovernmental relations in Mongolia. It consists of two parts. Part I briefly reviews the theories of fiscal decentralisation and its impact on the nations’ welfare considering the major challenges for a transition economy. Part II of the paper describes the general structure and scope of the government and examines the current fiscal autonomy in Mongolia focusing on the four main areas of intergovernmental relations. This paper concludes that local governments in Mongolia are still far away from having the political, administrative and fiscal autonomy. New approaches for the assignments of expenditures and revenues in Mongolia are urgently needed.
52
Staatliche Belastungen von Nutzfahrzeugen in Europa im Lichte der ökologischen Zielkonformität
(2006)
Inhalt: Abgaben auf Nutzfahrzeuge in Europa -Abgaben auf den Erwerb und das Inverkehrbringen: Zulassungssteuer, Zulassungsgebühren -Abgaben auf den Besitz: Kraftfahrzeugsteuer, Versicherungssteuer -Abgaben auf die Nutzung: Mineralölsteuer, Straßenbenutzungsabgaben -Gesamtabgaben im europäischen Vergleich Anforderungen an ökologisch motivierte Abgaben im Verkehrssektor -Die Sonderstellung des Verkehrssektors: Verkehrsinfrastruktur als öffentliches Gut, Bereitstellung von Straßeninfrastruktur als natürliches Monopol, das Phänomen externer Effekte -Kosten und Externalitäten im Verkehrssektor: Infrastrukturkosten, Umweltkosten, Unfallkosten, Staukosten -Die Pigou-Steuer als "first best" Lösung -Anwendbarkeit der Pigou-Steuer im Straßengüterverkehr: Abgabenerhebung auf Grenzkostenbasis – pro und contra, Messbarkeit externer Effekte, Ausgestaltung einer Abgabe auf Grenzkostenbasis -Rechtlicher europäischer Rahmen: die Eurovignettenrichtlinie, Vorschlag zur Änderung der Eurovignettenrichtlinie, Bewertung der Eurovignettenrichtlinie und des Änderungsvorschlags Die ökologische Zielkonformität der bestehenden Abgabensysteme -Zulassungsabgaben -Kfz-Steuer: die österreichische Kraftfahrzeugsteuer, die Motorfahrzeugsteuern in der Schweiz, die deutsche Kfz-Steuer -Mineralölsteuer -Straßenbenutzungsabgaben: die Lkw Maut in Österreich, die leistungsabhängige Schwerverkehrsabgabe in der Schweiz, die deutsche Lkw Maut, Vergleich der entfernungsabhängigen Straßenbenutzungsabgaben
47
Revisiting public investment
(2004)
The consumption equivalence method is the theoretical basis of public cost-benefit analysis. Consumption equivalence public capital prices are explicitly introduces in order to sufficiently care for the opportunity cost of public expenditure. This can solve the dispute about the social rate of discount within public cost-benefit analysis witch was generated on a criterion looking similar to the capital value formula, known as Lind’s approach. The social rate of discount is liberated from opportunity costs considerations and the discounting away of the effects for future welfare vanishes. The corresponding question whether one should accept a positive value of the pure rate of social time preference is an old issue. Its current state between the prescriptive and descriptive view can also be interpreted as a consequence of the oversimplification of standard cost– benefit analysis. But apart from an economic self-process the pure rate of social time preference is also defined as a business-as-usual value of social distance discounting. Hence, a political choice has to be made about this rate which is free in principal.
49
Public pensions in the U.S.
(2005)
Contents: The Public Old Age Insurance of the U.S. -Historical overview -Technical details -Individual equity and social adequacy The Economic Problem of Old Age -Risks and economic security -Old age, retirement, and idividual precaution -Insurance markets, market failures, and social insurance -Options for public pension systems The Problems of Social Security -The financial balance of OASDI -Causes of the long-run problems -Rates of return -Conclusion - The case for Social Security reform Proposed Remedies -Full, partial, or no privatization? -The President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security -Kotlikoff's Personal Security System -The Diamond-Orszag Three-Part plan
63
The paper is based on an individual life-cycle model, which describes the purely economic components of human capital. The present value of human capital is determined by all future income flows, which at the same time constitute the individual as well as the total tax base of a nation. Therefore, the income of the productive population determines the total tax revenue, which is spent for public goods (including education) and transfers (for poverty reduction). The efficient design of the education system (by private and public education investments) determines the quality of the human capital stock as well as the future gross income flows. The costs of public goods and the transfer expenditures have to be financed from the total tax revenue, which also affects the individual tax burden via the specific tax bases and tax rates. Especially the redistribution of income is connected with serious disincentives, influencing the preferences for work and leisure as well as for consumption and saving. An efficient tax and transfer system being accompanied by an education system financed in public private partnership, which treats equally labor and capital income, sets positive incentives for the formation of human, financial, and real capital. An important prerequisite for a sustainable growth process is the efficient design of the social security system, being based on the family as well as a collective risk equalization scheme. If that system is diminishing absolute poverty in an appropriate time period by transfers and vocational education measures for the grown-up as well as high quality primary, secondary and tertiary education programs for the children, the transfer expenditure would decrease and the tax bases (income and consumption) increase, lowering the burden on the productive population. For the first time, this micro model presented in this paper pools all the relevant variables for development within a simple life-cycle model, which can also be used for a powerful analysis of the current failures in existing tax and transfer schemes and fruitful empirical investigations. Hence, an efficient tax and transfer scheme strongly contributes to an improved national position in the global competition.
58
Der vorgestellte Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die gegenwärtige Hochschulfinanzierung in Deutschland; kürzlich haben einige Bundesländer Studiengebühren eingeführt, die zu einer teilweisen Finanzierung der Studienkosten beitragen sollen. Im II. Kapitel werden außerdem kurz die finanziellen Strukturen der tertiären Ausbildung in den OECD-Ländern beschrieben. Dabei geht es vor allem um die Kostenaufteilung zwischen öffentlichem und privatem Sektor. Im III. Kapitel werden dann die Verteilungswirkungen des gegenwärtigen Finanzierungssystems kritisch hinterfragt. Dabei wird auch auf den Lebenseinkommensvorteil einer Hochschulausbildung im Detail eingegangen, bevor dann mögliche Auswirkungen einer Gebührenfinanzierung diskutiert werden. Es wird deutlich hervor gehoben, dass die Einführung von Studiengebühren in eine umfassende hochschul- und bildungspolitische Strategie eingebettet sein muss, damit eine negative Selektionswirkung auf die Jugendlichen aus Haushalten mit prekären Einkommen vermieden wird.
50
Inhalt: Effizienz und Leistungsfähigkeit in lebenszeitlicher Perspektive -Zum Zusammenhang von Einkommen, Konsum, Ersparnis und Vermögen -Bemessungsgrundlagen der direkten Besteuerung -Lawinenwirkungen der traditionellen synthetischen Einkommensteuer -Kumulationswirkungen einer Mehrfachbelastung des Kapitaleinkommens Die Einfachsteuer als konsumorientierte Einkommensteuer Auswirkungen auf der Haushaltsebene Auswirkungen auf der Unternehmensebene
56
Kommunalfinanzen
(2008)
Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht über den Zeitraum von 1994 bis 2004 die kommunale Finanzsituation der Stadt Potsdam. Anhand eines Kennzahlensystems, das aus den Daten der entsprechenden kommunalen Haushaltspläne entwickelt wurde, konnten Aussagen über die Entwicklung der Einnahmen und Ausgaben sowie deren Beeinflussbarkeit durch kommunales Handeln herausgearbeitet werden. Die Analyse brachte zwei Ergebnisse hervor: Zum einen, dass Potsdam nicht als „dauernd finanziell leistungsfähig“ gilt und zum anderen, dass sowohl die Ausgaben und Einnahmen von Potsdam stark exogenen Einflüssen unterliegen und demzufolge geringe Gestaltungsspielräume besitzt. Vor diesem Hintergrund hat sich die Stadt Potsdam für verschiedene Maßnahmen zur Haushaltskonsolidierung entschieden, um eine stetige Aufgabenerfüllung zu gewährleisten.
57
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.
62
In the history of economic thoughts the problem of a "just" tax rate structure has played an important role. The paper reconsiders the discussions of the last two centuries and sheds additional light on the concrete tax schedules using the more recent methods of tax theory. Even if the substitution effects which play an important role in the theory of optimal taxation are neglected, the slope in the diminishing marginal utility of income causes tax rate structures reaching from accelerated progression to delayed regression. Interestingly the principle of equal relative sacrifice combined with a Bernoulli utility function yields a delayed progression, which is connected with a negative income tax.
46
An exhaustive and disjoint decomposition of social choice situations is derived in a general set theoretical framework using the new tools of the Lifted Pareto relation on the power set of social states representing a pre-choice comparison of choice option sets. The main result is the classification of social choice situations which include three types of social choice problems. First, we usually observe the common incompleteness of the Pareto relation. Second, a kind of non-compactness problem of a choice set of social states can be generated. Finally, both can be combined. The first problem root can be regarded as natural everyday dilemma of social choice theory whereas the second may probably be much more due to modeling technique implications. The distinction is enabled at a very general set theoretical level. Hence, the derived classification of social choice situations is applicable on almost every relevant economic model.
55
The paper sheds some light on the education returns in Germany in the post war period. After describing higher education in Germany the current stand of higher education financing within the single states is presented. In six states tuition fees will be introduced in 2007/08 and discussions are going on in even some more. In the second part of the paper an empirical analysis is done using longitudinal data from the German social pension system. The analysis over the whole lifecycle renders results which proof that the higher education advantages are quite remarkable and might be a justification for more intensified financing by tuition fees. But all this has to be embedded into an encompassing strategy of tax and social policy, especially to prevent a strengthened process of social selection, which would be counterproductive for an increased and highly qualified human capital in Germany.