Fiscal decentralization in Spain: An asymmetric transition to democracy

Asymmetric fiscal decentralization, by which we mean different fiscal arrangements between the central government and different groups of, or individual, lower-level governments, may be justified from an economic efficiency perspective. As argued by Tiebout (1956), Oates (1972) and others, a decentralized system of regional and local governments is better able to accommodate differences in tastes for public goods and services. This efficiency argument calls for decentralization of fiscal authority to regional and local governments, but not necessarily asymmetric decentralization. However, when the differences in tastes for public goods and services arise out of differences in history, culture and language across regions of a country, asymmetric treatment may be justified. History, culture and language may influence how a group of people (a region) views autonomy, independence and fiscal authority. Some regions may have had experience with autonomous government in the past, they may have a culture that is strongly reliant upon (or leery of) the central government, or they may be fearful of losing their separate languages if they do not have special arrangements. To accommodate differences in taste for independence, autonomy, and fiscal authority, it may be necessary to have different fiscal arrangements between the central government and the different regions comprising the country.

Las deducciones en el IRPF por gasto sanitario privado: situación actual y posibilidades de reforma

The paper provides information about the tax treatment given to personalhealth expenditures in the Personal Income Tax in Spain, and analyseswhat we know about it and how the tax credit or other forms ofpreferential tax treatment can contribute to the financement of privatehealth expenditures, of special relevance in view of the recent PersonalIncome Tax modification proposals . It also points out some of the mainredistributive results coming out from this type of public financement,differentiating between types of expenditures (mainly those on healthservices which are not provided by the public health system, from thosewhich are).

Tobin meets Oates: Solidarity and the optimal fiscal federal structure

We explore the implications for the optimal degree of fiscal decentralization when people spreferences for goods and services, which classic treatments of fiscal federalism (Oates, 1972)place in the purview of local governments, exhibit specific egalitarianism (Tobin, 1970), orsolidarity. We find that a system in which the central government provides a common minimumlevel of the publicly provided good, and local governments are allowed to use their ownresources to provide an even higher local level, performs better from an efficiency perspectiverelative to all other systems analyzed for a relevant range of preferences over solidarity.

Does it cost to be virtuous? The macroeconomic effects of fiscal constraints

We study whether and how fiscal restrictions alter the business cycle features of macrovariables for a sample of 48 US states. We also examine the typical transmission properties of fiscal disturbances and the implied fiscal rules of states with different fiscal restrictions. Fiscal constraints are characterized with a number of indicators. There are similarities in second moments of macrovariables and in the transmission properties of fiscal shocks across states with different fiscal constraints. The cyclical response of expenditure differs in size and sometimes in sign, but heterogeneity within groups makes point estimates statistically insignificant. Creative budget accounting is responsible for the pattern. Implications for the design of fiscal rules and the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact are discussed.

Why do differences in the degree of fiscal decentralization endure?

A notable difference between the U.S. and many countries in Europe is in the degree of fiscal decentralization. Regional (and local) governments in the U.S. have significant autonomy in setting their own taxes and determining how to spend their revenues. This is not true of their counterparts in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic and many other European countries. In recent years, many countries formerly subject to dictatorshipsor communism have been considering decentralizing fiscal responsibility to sub-national governments as part of the process of democratization (see Bird and Ebel, forthcoming). Yet, much of Europe remains immune to adopting effective decentralization in which sub-national units have true taxing authority.

Efectos de la reforma del IRPF sobre la oferta laboral de las mujeres

The aim of this paper is to simulate the effects of the Spanish 1999 taxreform on the married women s labour behaviour and welfare in a partialequilibrium context. We estimate by maximum likelihood two models of laboursupply which take into account of the characteristics of the budgetconstraint. The simulation exercises suggest that the new tax can havesignificant effects on female s labour supply decisions and seems toincrease the individual s welfare.

Price differentials in monetary unions: The role of fiscal shocks

We study the effect of regional expenditure and revenue shocks on price differentials for47 US states and 9 EU countries. We identify shocks using sign restrictions on the dynamicsof deficits and output and construct two estimates for structural price differentials dynamics which optimally weight the information contained in the data for all units. Fiscal shocks explain between 14 and 23 percent of the variability of price differentials both in the US and in the EU. On average, expansionary fiscal disturbances produce positive price differential responses while distortionary balance budget shocks produce negative price differential responses. In a number of units, price differential responses to expansionary fiscal shocks are negative. Spillovers and labor supply effects partially explain this pattern while geographical, political, and economic indicators do not.

O planeamento fiscal em sede do imposto único sobre o Rendimento nas PME´s em São Vicente

O planeamento fiscal visa principalmente à minimização dos gastos fiscais que de certa forma afectam a rendibilidade das empresas. Neste contexto consideramos que deve estar integrada na gestão normal de qualquer empreendimento. Dado a extensividade do tema, debruçamo-nos sobre o planeamento fiscal nas PME´s visto que embora desempenham um papel de suma importância na economia moderna, dado a sua dimensão, apresentam maiores dificuldades na gestão dos aspectos fiscais. Considerando que o planeamento não deve ser confundido com outras formas de minimização dos impostos procuramos distingui-lo da fraude e evasão fiscal e da manipulação dos resultados, pois o principal objectivo do nosso trabalho é contribuir para uma maior divulgação e consciencialização desta ferramenta que proporciona uma redução lícita dos gastos fiscais Na elaboração do trabalho levamos em consideração a importância do conhecimento dos principais aspectos contabilísticos e fiscais relacionados com o Imposto único sobre os Rendimentos bem como da importância da informação contabilística para a elaboração do planeamento fiscal Como instrumento para colecta de dados optamos pela aplicação de um questionário, com o intuito de perceber se as PME´s em São Vicente têm conhecimento do tema em estudo e até que ponto têm procedido a sua aplicação. De acordo com os dados recolhidos, constatamos que algumas empresas demonstraram-se à vontade em relação ao tema, mas de um modo global podemos constatar que esta prática ainda é pouco difundida e aplicada na comunidade pesquisada.

Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report of the Iowa Communications Network, December 2008

This is the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) for the Iowa Communications Network.

Iowa Department of Transportation Office of Contracts Letting Summary - Fiscal 2008

Report of the letting activity of the Iowa Department of Transportation's Office of Contracts required by Iowa Code Section 307.12(15).

Iowa Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 2008 Report of Savings by Using Video Conferencing Through Iowa Communications Network to the Iowa General Assembly Pursuant to Iowa Code § II 84 Acts and Joint Resolutions Enacted at the 1994 Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly of the State of Iowa Iowa Code §8D.10 Report of Savings by State Agencies

Iowa Code § 8D.10 requires certain state agencies prepare an annual report to the General Assembly certifying the identified savings associated with that state agency’s use of the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). This report covers estimated cost savings related to video conferencing via ICN for the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). In FY 2008, the DOT did not conduct any sessions utilizing ICN’s video conferencing system. Therefore, no cost savings were calculated for this report.

Iowa Budget Report Fiscal Year 2010.

Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge submitted their $6.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2010. The proposal recommends further budget cuts – rather than tax increases – to help meet the challenges of declining state revenues. “In recent months, we have reduced state government spending by nearly $180 million in order to maintain a balanced budget,” said Governor Culver. "My budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 will reflect a 6.5 percent cut to almost every state department and program,” the Governor continued. “In fact, 207 of the 253 line items in my budget proposal will be cut by 6.5 percent. That represents a savings of $400 million to Iowa taxpayers.”

As Vicissitudes dos Impostos Indirectos no Sistema Fiscal Cabo-verdiano

O presente trabalho, enquadra-se no projecto de Licenciatura em Economia e Gestão, variante Administração e Controlo Financeiro como requisito exigido pela Universidade Jean Piaget de Cabo Verde. As vicissitudes dos impostos indirectos no sistema fiscal cabo-verdiano, é um tema actual que pretende mostrar a importância dos impostos indirectos para o nosso sistema fiscal. Para a sua elaboração consultou-se vários manuais, revistas, livros, Internet etc., e também recorreu-se a opinião de algumas pessoas ligadas a este assunto. Este tema é de estrema relevância, porque, ajuda-nos a entender o desenvolvimento de qualquer país. Actualmente em Cabo Verde falar dos impostos indirectos é falar mais concretamente do IVA, que aliais é o imposto que mais se tem falado ultimamente no nosso pais nos últimos anos e pode-se dizer que é o mais conhecido desde a sua implementação em janeiro de 2004. Contudo só podemos falar dos impostos com o aparecimento dos Estados e dos Impérios, onde antigamente o seu pagamento efectuava-se de várias formas, normalmente em metais preciosos como o ouro e a prata, mas também com recurso a escravos, soldados, gado, colheitas, ou outros recursos agrícolas ou naturais.

The elusive costs and the immaterial gains of fiscal contraints

We study whether and how fiscal restrictions alter the business cycle features macrovariables for a sample of 48 US states. We also examine the 'typical' transmission properties of fiscal disturbances and the implied fiscal rules of states with different fiscal restrictions. Fiscal constraints are characterized with a number of indicators. There are similarities in second moments of macrovariables and in the transmission properties of fiscal shocks across states with different fiscal constraints. The cyclical response of expenditure differs in size and sometimes in sign, but heterogeneity within groups makes point estimates statistically insignificant. Creative budget accounting isresponsible for the pattern. Implications for the design of fiscal rules and thereform of the Stability and Growth Pact are discussed.

Alcoolismo no contexto laboral - Estudo de caso (Guarda Fiscal)

O presente trabalho que propomos apresentar tem como tema “ O Alcoolismo no contexto laboral”. Foi definido como objectivo geral deste trabalho analisar as características de trabalho da Guarda Fiscal e investigar em que medida os factores organizacionais podem criar um ambiente favorável para o uso de bebidas alcoólicas. Para a concretização do nosso estudo, levamos a cabo uma revisão bibliográfica sobre diversas matérias que abordam a problemática do alcoolismo em vários níveis, com enfoque especial para o âmbito do trabalho. Quanto ao procedimento, o nosso trabalho trata-se de um Estudo de Caso, cuja população é constituída por 59 elementos policiais da Guarda Fiscal, efectivos do Comando da Secção Fiscal da Praia. São todos do sexo masculino, cuja faixa etária varia entre 21 a 61 anos de idade. Pertencem a várias categorias profissionais (oficiais, subchefes e agentes), estão distribuídos em diferentes sectores de serviço, nomeadamente Porto e Aeroporto. A nossa investigação é do tipo descritivo e exploratório, caracterizada por uma abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. E como técnica foi utilizado a entrevista e o questionário. Concluiu-se que no contexto de trabalho da Guarda Fiscal, onde decorreu o nosso estudo, os aspectos de trabalho propiciam o uso de bebidas alcoólicas.