VAT Expansion and Labor Tax Cuts
Since VAT revenues are such a significant and stable contributor to overall government revenues, EU policymakers should pay particular attention to how efficiently those revenues are raised.
22 min read
Cristina Enache
Economist
Cristina Enache writes on the economics of tax policy and is the author of the Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index. She was formerly the Director of Research at Civismo, an economic research organization based in Spain. She also served as head of research at Institución Futuro, a regional think tank based in Navarra in northern Spain. She is also currently Secretary-General at the World Taxpayers Associations and General Manager of the Spanish Taxpayers Union, which she joined in 2016.
Cristina has a degree in economics from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and a master’s degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Navarra.
Latest Work
Corporate Tax Rates around the World, 2022
A new report shows that corporate tax rates around the world continue to level off. “We aren’t seeing a race to the bottom, we’re seeing a race toward the middle,” said Sean Bray, EU policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.
25 min read
Chile’s Tax Reform Heads in the Wrong Direction
As Chile looks to the future, the accelerated deductions for capital investment costs should be extended and made permanent while unnecessary tax hikes on individuals and capital should be avoided. Policymakers should focus on growth-oriented tax policy that encourages investment, savings, and entrepreneurial activity, increasing Chile’s international tax competitiveness.
4 min read
Spain’s Race to the Bottom in the International Tax Competitiveness Index
Since 2020, Spain has dropped from 26th to 34th on the International Tax Competitiveness due to multiple tax hikes, new taxes, and weak performances in all five index components.
7 min read
Colombia Is in Urgent Need of Pro-Growth Comprehensive Tax Reform
Colombia should consider shifting its planned tax reforms from harmful corporate and individual taxes to less harmful consumption taxes.
5 min read
2022 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index
The 2022 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index allows policymakers and taxpayers to evaluate and measure how their regions’ tax systems compare.
8 min read
Windfall Profit Taxes in Europe, 2022
It’s unlikely these implemented and proposed windfall taxes will achieve their goals of addressing high gas and energy prices and raising additional revenues. They would more likely raise prices, penalize domestic production, and punitively target certain industries without a sound tax base.
9 min read
Japan’s Tax and Benefit System for Working Parents Isn’t Working
The Japanese tax and benefit system comes with trade-offs that policymakers must keep in mind when planning to reform the tax policy.
7 min read
Australia’s Tax and Benefit System Might Deter Working Parents from Advancing in Their Careers
While the tax and benefit system can be successful in keeping low-income working households out of poverty and encouraging workforce participation, high marginal tax rates like the one observed in the case of this Australian working parent act as barriers to upward mobility.
6 min read
Health-care Premiums Could Deter Canadians’ Upward Mobility
Canadian workers could face up to two important marginal tax rate spikes and lose 60 percent of additional earnings to the provincial health-care premium.
4 min read
Lithuanian Model Could Help French Workers’ Upward Mobility
Reshaping some of these policies to generate a smoother variation of marginal tax rates over different income levels would likely raise labor supply and encourage the upward mobility of workers and especially that of average-income workers.
5 min read
Navigating the Complex Income Tax System in Italy
High marginal tax rates can act as barriers to upward mobility, discouraging people from advancing in their careers.
5 min read
Marginal Tax Rates and Economic Opportunity
Research has shown that spikes in tax rates can act as barriers to upward mobility. High marginal tax rates might directly influence the decisions workers make about accepting a raise, working additional hours, or whether they might remain on government benefits.
8 min read
Cigarette Taxes in Europe, 2022
Ireland and France levy the highest excise duties on cigarettes in the EU, at €8.85 ($10.47) and €6.88 ($8.13) per 20-cigarette pack, respectively.
3 min read
Europe Opened the Pandora Box of Reduced VAT Rates
With this new VAT directive, the EU has invited member states to adopt policies that create new complexities, are poorly targeted, and undermine an Own Resource.
5 min read
Wealth Taxes in Europe, 2022
Only three European OECD countries levy a net wealth tax, namely Norway, Spain, and Switzerland.
3 min read
Can Taxes Predict the UEFA Champions League Winner?
Before competing in the UEFA Champions League, football clubs in Europe also compete to lure the best players.
5 min read
Analyzing Recent Tax Trends Among EU Countries
In recent years, EU countries have undertaken a series of tax reforms designed to maintain tax revenue levels while supporting investment and economic growth. However, not all tax reforms were created equal.
7 min read
Capital Gains Tax Rates in Europe, 2022
In many countries, investment income, such as dividends and capital gains, is taxed at a different rate than wage income. Denmark levies the highest top capital gains tax among European OECD countries, followed by Norway, Finland, and France.
4 min read