Annual Report of the Iowa Grape and Wine Development Commission for Fiscal Year, 2008

FY2008 was a productive year for the Iowa Grape and Wine Development Commission. Sixteen proposals were recommended for funding from FY2008 funds and carryover totaling just over $396,000 in outlays. Included in the approved proposals were staffing and equipment for the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute’s wine diagnostics laboratory at Iowa State University, continued support for the viticulturist position at Des Moines Area Community College, funding for the second annual Mid-American Wine Competition, and assistance for marketing and promotion of Ice coats an Iowa vineyard after a February 2008 ice storm. Photo by Mike White and courtesy of Iowa State University. 16 two wine trail associations and seven festivals and events. Commission funding supported a salaried position within IDALS to manage the Iowa Grape and Wine Development Fund and to serve as the Director of the Iowa Grape and Wine Development Commission. The Commission approved funding for a Scholarship Program. The formally created Scholarship Committee met twice in FY2008 to finalize details for the Program and to approve scholarships to twenty-six applicants to aid with the expenses of accredited coursework. Based on data collected by IDALS, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, and Iowa State University the Iowa grape and wine industry appears to continue to be very viable and growth continues at a strong pace. Presently, Iowa ranks 14th in the nation for the number of wineries, and wine produced in the state for 2008 was estimated at a market value in excess of $14.0 million. A tabulation of the budget revealed that just over $1,080,000 in wine gallonage tax appropriations and legislative appropriations have been deposited into the Grape and Wine Development Fund from FY2003 through FY2008. Removing encumbered funds, expenditures have totaled just over $942,500 during that same time. “Financial” funding – used for fostering public awareness and participation of industry events - increased from 6% of expenditures in FY2007 to 9% in FY2008. Used for support of research, education, and outreach, a little over 80% of expenditures and encumbered funds were earmarked for “Technical” spending. Over time, funds invested in “Technical” programs will translate into an increasingly educated and institutionally-supported industry. Local, regional, and statewide events also appeared to be increasing in popularity. The Commission was encouraged to see increased support for these events. It is hoped, too, that the Scholarship Program will provide needed funding to help meet the educational goals of the industry’s workforce. As they continue to support Iowa’s grape and wine industry, the Commissioners look forward to working with individuals, commercial enterprises, state and federal agencies, and industry-sponsored institutions in FY2009 and in years to come.

The effects of tax deductibility on the mix of property taxes and use charges: an empirical analysis of the spanish case

This paper tests some hypothesis about the determinants of the local tax structure. In particular, we focus on the effects that the property tax deductibility in the national income tax has on the relative use of the property tax and user charges. We deal with the incentive effects that local governments face regarding the different sources of revenue by means of a model in which the local tax structure and the level of public expenditure arise as a result of the maximizing behaviour of local politicians subject to the economic effects of the tax system. We attempt to test the hypothesis developed with data corresponding to a set of Spanish municipalities during the period 1987-9l. We find that tax deductibility provides incentives to raise revenues from the property tax but does not introduce a biass against user charges or in favor of overall spending growth

The effects of tax deductibility on the mix of property taxes and use charges: an empirical analysis of the spanish case

This paper tests some hypothesis about the determinants of the local tax structure. In particular, we focus on the effects that the property tax deductibility in the national income tax has on the relative use of the property tax and user charges. We deal with the incentive effects that local governments face regarding the different sources of revenue by means of a model in which the local tax structure and the level of public expenditure arise as a result of the maximizing behaviour of local politicians subject to the economic effects of the tax system. We attempt to test the hypothesis developed with data corresponding to a set of Spanish municipalities during the period 1987-9l. We find that tax deductibility provides incentives to raise revenues from the property tax but does not introduce a biass against user charges or in favor of overall spending growth

Issue review : city property tax for fiscal year 2009.

This issue review provides fiscal year 2009 city taxable value, tax rate and property tax revenue statistics, with comparisons to FY 2008 and to FY 2001. A discussion of the impact of the residential rollback on the tax base of cities and the growth in tax increment financing, or TIF, is also included.

Inter-jurisdictional fiscal competition: a review of the literature and policy recommendations

This paper surveys the literature on fiscal competition. We consider tax and expenditure competition in a more general set up where different jurisdictions within a federation may compete in the provision of public goods in order to attract some residents (Tiebout, 1956) and expel others (Brueckner, 1999); and/or for business. We address the vast literature on welfare gains or losses of these types of competition. Then, we discuss the empirical evidence, focusing on estimates of the sensitiveness of production factors to tax differentials and on the importance of the strategic interdependence among jurisdictions. We combine econometric studies with some case studies. Last we discuss the design of mechanisms to cope with fiscal competition, especially under a more global environment where factors become more mobile.

O papel das transferências intergovernamentais na equalização fiscal dos municípios brasileiros

Com a descentralização que caracterizou a federação brasileira nas últimas décadas, os municípios receberam maiores atribuições e responsabilidades, implementando políticas públicas e provendo serviços básicos à população. Contudo, uma vez que as receitas próprias municipais são capazes de custear apenas parcialmente estas atividades, torna-se necessário um volume elevado de transferências que fluem dos níveis centrais aos municípios. Além do mais, o Brasil é um país de território vasto e heterogêneo, em que municípios com distintas capacidades de autofinanciamento, bem como diferentes demandas por serviços públicos, convivem no mesmo regime federativo. Diante deste quadro, torna-se fundamental estudar a distribuição dos recursos das transferências, verificando se os municípios que mais necessitam de suporte financeiro têm sido os efetivamente beneficiados. À este processo de reduzir as disparidades horizontais provenientes de diferenças nas bases tributárias e demandas locais dá-se o nome de equalização fiscal. A equalização fiscal permite que municípes de diferentes jurisdições recebam o mesmo nível de serviços públicos para dada carga tributária assumida por eles (net fiscal benefit), ou seja, a equalização promove a equidade na provisão dos serviços públicos, além de evitar a criação de ineficiência alocativa derivada de migrações motivadas por benefícios fiscais. Para criar a equalização fiscal as transferências devem beneficiar aqueles municípios com menor capacidade de autofinanciamento e maiores necessidades fiscais atreladas à custos e demandas pelos serviços públicos. Neste sentido, este trabalho busca avaliar o efeito das transferências intergovernamentais na equalização fiscal dos municípios, considerando as principais proxies de capacidade fiscal – potencial de geração de receita própria – e necessidade fiscal – volume de recursos demandados em virtude das características da região e da população do município. A análise é realizada para cada grupo de transferências, desde aquelas com finalidade essencialmente redistributiva como o FPM até aquelas predominantemente devolutivas, como a cota-parte de ICMS. Os resultados mostram que algumas transferências como o FPM contribuem pouco para a equalização fiscal, apesar do objetivo de natureza redistributiva implícito neste repasse, assim como algumas transferências condicionais, como o FUNDEB, apesar de não almejarem especificamente corrigir as disparidades horizontais na capacidade dos municípios realizarem suas funções, podem significar um efeito positivo para a equalização fiscal no nível municipal da federação. Outro resultado importante que desponta na análise é o efeito da transferência do Bolsa-família na equalização, pois esta transferência consegue atenuar as distorções realizadas pelas demais transferências distribuídas aos municípios. O Bolsa-família, apesar de não ser uma transferência intergovernamental, foi incorporada na análise por representar um expressivo volume de recursos, por concorrer com recursos de outras transferências e ainda ter efeito potencial semelhante ao das demais transferências intergovernamentais no âmbito da equalização fiscal, uma vez que libera recursos no orçamento do governo local que, do contrário, poderiam estar comprometidos com a política local de assistência social. Outro resultado é a observação de que as transferências voluntárias afetam menos a equalização, ou seja, não contribuem para a consecução deste objetivo nem prejudicam a redução das disparidades horizontais, sendo relativamente neutras ou menos intervenientes em relação às demandas e capacidade de arrecadação dos municípios, provavelmente por não seguirem critérios, nem econômicos, como o ICMS, nem redistributivos, como o FPM, e sim critérios políticos, como apontado pela literatura de ciência política.

Tributação, finanças públicas e política fiscal: uma análise sob a óptica do direito e economia

In the Brazilian legal scenario, the study of taxation has traditionally been restricted to positivist analysis, concerned with investigating the formal aspects of the tax legal rule. Despite its relevance to the formation of the national doctrine of tax, such formalist tradition limits the discipline, separating it from reality and the socioeconomic context in which the Tax Law is inserted. Thus, the proposal of the dissertation is to examine the fundamentals and nature of taxation and tax legal rules from the perspective of Law and Economics (Economic Analysis of Law). For this purpose, the work initially reconnects the Tax Law and Science of Finance (or Public Finance) and Fiscal Policy, undertaking not only a legal analysis, but also economic and financial analysis of the theme. The Economics of Public Sector (or Modern Public Finance) will contribute to the research through topics such as market failures and economic theory of taxation, which are essential to an economic approach to Tax Law. The core of the work lies in the application of Law and Economics instruments in the study of taxation, analyzing the effects of tax rules on the economic system. Accordingly, the dissertation examines the fundamental assumptions that make up the Economic Analysis of Law (as the concept of economic efficiency and its relation to equity), relating them to the tax phenomenon. Due to the nature of the Brazilian legal system, any worth investigation or approach, including Law and Economics, could not pass off the Constitution. Thus, the constitutional rules will serve as a limit and a prerequisite for the application of Law and Economics on taxation, particularly the rules related to property rights, freedom, equality and legal certainty. The relationship between taxation and market failures receives prominent role, particularly due to its importance to the Law and Economics, as well as to the role that taxation plays in the correction of these failures. In addition to performing a review of taxation under the approach of Economic Analysis of Law, the research also investigates the reality of Brazilian tax system, applying the concepts developed in relevant cases and issues to the national scene, such as the relationship between taxation and development, the compliance costs of taxation, the tax evasion and the tax enforcement procedure. Given the above, it is intended to lay the groundwork for a general theory of Economic Analysis of Tax Law, contextualizing it with the Brazilian tax system

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2009-2010: The distributive impact of public policies

Includes bibliography

Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2011-2012: Continuing crisis in the centre and new opportunities for developing economies

Includes bibliography

The Role of Tax Policy in the Context of the Global Crisis: consequences and prospects

Includes bibliography

The fiscal impact of trade liberalization and commodity price fluctuation: the case of Dominican Republic, 1980-1998

Includes bibliography

The fiscal impact of trade liberalization and commodity price fluctuation: the case of Costa Rica, 1980-1998

Includes bibliography

Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2015: Policy space and dilemmas. Executive Summary

The present document provides an up-to-date overview of public debt and fiscal space in the region. The main conclusions show that public debt levels are low in Latin America and high in the Caribbean. Overall, the region has enough fiscal space to apply countercyclical policies and boost production development and the fiscal management of non-renewable natural resources needs to be modernized. It explains that fiscal policy has a very limited impact on the distribution of disposable income and in a volatile macroeconomic environment, reforms should aim to strengthen personal income tax.

Europe's social problem and its implications for economic growth. Bruegel Policy Brief 2014/03, 1 April 2014

The European Union faces major social problems. More than six million jobs were lost from 2008-13 and poverty has increased. Fiscal consolidation has generally attempted to spare social protection from spending cuts, but the distribution of adjustment costs between the young and old has been uneven; a growing generational divide is evident, disadvantaging the young. The efficiency of the social security systems of EU countries varies widely. Countries with greater inequality tended to have higher household borrowing prior to the crisis resulting in more subdued consumption growth during the crisis. The resulting high private debt, high unemployment, poverty and more limited access to education undermine long-term growth and social and political stability. Policymakers face three main challenges. First, addressing unemployment and poverty should remain a high priority not only for its own sake, but because these problems undermine public debt sustainability and growth. Second, bold policies in various areas are required. Most labour, social and fiscal policies are the responsibility of member states, requiring national reforms. But better coordination of demand management at European level is also necessary in order to create jobs. Third, tax/benefit systems should be reviewed for improved efficiency, inter- generational equity and fair burden sharing between the wealthy and poor.

Federal tax reform : a review of the federal tax reform compromise and its implications for Illinois.

At head of title: Tax report.