An Estimable Model of Income Redistribution in a Federation: Musgrave Meets Oates

We develop a theory of cross-border income shifting in response to subnational personal taxation in a federation and examine its implications for the excess burden of personal taxes. We show how a properly chosen federal tax rate can offset the fiscal externality between states and facilitate decentralization, even in a heterogeneous federation where unitary taxation is suboptimal. Optimal taxes depend on the elasticities of national tax avoidance and of cross-state tax base shifting. We estimate these elasticities around a tax decentralization reform in Canada, finding both to be empirically relevant. We discuss the implications for optimal federalism. (JEL D31, H21, H23, H24, H26, H71, H77)

The other side of tax discrimination

The purpose of the paper is to present the tax consequences resulting from the lack of recognition of registered partnerships and same-sex marriages in certain EU member states, taking the example of Poland. These aspects are usually perceived as discrimination of citizens based on their sexual orientation. The author of this paper has focused on various aspects of possible discrimination, mainly concerning discrimination on the grounds of personal taxation, including inheritance and gift taxes. For these purposes, the author analysed the domestic tax rules differentiating couples living in a marriage and couples without that possibility. These legal provisions have been analysed together with the most recent domestic jurisprudence. Furthermore, the paper presents comparative analyses of domestic rules with EU law. Due to the lack of case-law oriented towards fiscal discrimination due to sexual orientation, the relevant CJEU (the Court of Justice of the European Union, hereinafter: the CJEU) and ECHR (the European Court of Human Rights, hereinafter: the ECHR) case-law have been recalled to reveal possible violations of fundamental freedoms and tax discrimination. The author makes a connection between the lack of proper regulations implemented in the domestic law with the unjustified differentiation of cross-border families on tax grounds. In the long run, only the harmonisation of personal taxation at the EU level can lead to a resolution to this situation. Alternatively, as an interim solution, the relevant ECHR judgment may be of assistance.

On the Issue of Progressive or Proportional Taxation of Personal Incomes

The subject of the research is the procedure for personal income taxation. The purpose of the workwas to determine which personal taxation regime is more justified: progressive or proportional. The paperprovides the reasons for the transition from the progressive to the proportional tax. The risks and possibilities of transition to the progressive scale are analyzed. It is concluded that in order to achieve social justice and improve the welfare of the majority of peoplerather thana very small part of them, it is necessary to adopt a set of economic, fiscal and administrative measures aimed at solving a single task — ensuring the social and economic development of Russia. Discrete measures, such as the introduction of the progressive personal income tax will not lead to desired results. Moreover, the progressive tax cannot be introduced unlessit is ruled by law that large spendings of citizens must correspond to their incomes.