In the last fifty years, many countries have moved toward broad-based and flat-rate tax systems such as the value-added tax (VAT) and the flat-rate income tax. The main rationale for introducing a broad-based and flat-rate tax system is the belief that such a system increases the incentive to work, save, and invest, leading to a higher aggregate income and a higher standard of living. Yet, empirical evidence on the actual effectiveness of broad-based and flat-rate taxes is very limited. This dissertation combines novel methodologies with newly available data to provide causal estimates of the economic effects of broad-based and flat-rate tax systems. The first essay analyzes the impact of the flat tax reforms on GDP per capita and its main drivers. I identify 8 Eastern and Central European countries that adopted flat tax systems between 1994 and 2005 and apply synthetic control methods to estimate their counterfactual trajectory of GDP per worker in the absence of a flat tax. I find positive impacts in all 8 countries, with 7 out of 8 cases significant at the conventional level. The second essay estimates the efficiency gains of adopting a VAT in a worldwide sample of countries using synthetic control methods. I find that the VAT has, on average, positive and economically meaningful impact on economic efficiency. However, I find that this result is driven by richer countries only. There is no significant impact of the VAT on poorer countries. I find similar results when estimating the impact of the VAT on total factor productivity and capital stock per worker â"u20ac"u201c two important channels through which a VAT affects economic efficiency. The third essay estimates the causal impact of a VAT on productivity, capital accumulation, and input cost using Regression Discontinuity Design and firm-level data from France. I find no significant impact of a VAT on firms' productivity or input cost. However, I find some evidence that the VAT increases firms' capital accumulation. In addition, I also find that the impact of a VAT is heterogeneous across different sectors of the economy. / Bibek Adhikari

本論文研究主要針對理論上討論以久的單一稅率 (flat tax) 所得稅制度進行深入研究，理論上討論許久的單一稅率制度己經在世界各國廣為實行，而單一稅率所得稅制度，不僅可降低稽徵成本，更可讓納稅義務人誠實申報所得。簡單來說，單一稅率就是對每個人及課稅所得項目，課徵用同樣的單一稅率；也就是無論貧富，所得在一定免稅額以上，皆課以同一比率的稅額。由於除了免稅額外，不再提供任何扣除額及租稅優惠減免項目，因此單一稅率制度之稅基更為寬廣，符合水平公平；簡化稅制也將大幅降低徵納雙方的成本（包括稽徵成本、資訊成本與遵從成本等），而且因為稅制設計出適當的免稅額，即使實行單一稅率，所得愈高者其稅額占所得比例仍然呈現平均有效稅率遞增的現象，因此稅制仍然具有累進效果，打破大多數人誤以為「單一稅率不符垂直公平的迷思」。 美國兩位學者 Hall and Rabushka (1981) 提出單一稅率的所得稅制改革思想，即使未獲美國政府實行，幾十年後卻廣為許多歐洲國家所實施。1994年波羅的海地區的愛沙尼亞 (Estonia)、拉脫維亞 (Latvia)、立陶宛 (Lithuania) 陸續實施單一稅率所得稅制，尤其以俄羅實行稅制改革績效最為顯著，本文將更進一步研究分析單一稅率制度的理論基礎及對俄羅斯國實行單一稅率制度的具體設計內容及成果更詳細的探討。

In this dissertation, I develop a framework to study the effects of tax-deferred saving accounts on the aggregate economy. I incorporate tax-deferred saving accounts in a theoretical model of household's life-cycle decisions, which is then linked to the real world data by calibration. I study the effects of tax-deferred saving accounts on the aggregate savings and the aggregate output, and further analyze their impacts of different policy changes. In the first chapter, I present the important features of tax-deferred saving accounts in the U.S. and their institutional changes over time. I highlight the differences between IRA and 401(k) on their contribution limits and household's eligibility. While IRA has a lower contribution limit and is available to all households, 401(k) has a much higher contribution limit but is only accessible by a fraction of households. In the second chapter, I present an overlapping-generations model to capture the effects of tax-deferred saving accounts in a general equilibrium framework. There are four key aspects to the model: first, households can save in both ordinary saving account and tax-deferred saving account. Second, there is a nonlinear progressive income tax system. Third, households are heterogeneous in their labor productivity and 401(k) eligibility. Fourth, households decide consumption, savings and labor supply endogenously. The model is calibrated to the US economy in 2000, with the distribution of 401(k) eligibility being an endogenous outcome that matches the data reported in Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) in 2001. In the third chapter, I study the quantitative effects of tax-deferred saving accounts on the aggregate economy and investigate their policy implications. Specifically, I estimate the macroeconomic impacts of eliminating tax-deferred saving accounts from the economy. To highlight the role played by the heterogeneity of 401(k) eligibility, I conduct a quantitative exercise that provide universal 401(k) eligibility to all households. In these experiments, I maintain government revenue neutrality by introducing a new proportional income tax (subsidy) that has the same effects as a upward (downward) shift of all marginal tax rates in the US income tax schedule. Since the institutional settings of tax-deferred saving accounts essentially provide consumption tax treatments on households retirement savings, I further explore the implications of tax-deferred saving accounts for a proportional consumption tax reform. Results from this study indicate that tax-deferred saving accounts have significant impacts on the aggregate economy and demonstrate that these accounts substantially reduce the impacts of a consumption tax reform.

This thesis discuss the phenomenon in income taxes during last decade - the flat tax. The paper analyzes historical development of income taxes and ideas of flat tax, how it worked in history and how economists elaborated different proposals of flat tax in 20th century. The main accent has concept of american economists Robert Hall and Alvin Rabushka, which is well-developed and which was the lodestar of czech tax reform in 2008. Thesis consists of analysis of their theoretical model, its effects and consequences. The comparison of czech implementation with original concept follows on some model examples of czech taxpayers. That illustrates how the implementation worked out.

The main aim of the Master`s thesis is to compare and evaluate the system of flat tax in the Baltic States and the Slovak Republic. In the first chapter the reader will learn about a brief history of the flat tax and the general terms that relate to the topic. The second and third chapter is devoted to an analysis of the tax systems in the countries surveyed. This thesis analyzes the political and economic situation of each country before the tax reform, a description of the tax systems as originally introduced and changes over time to present. The last chapter is devoted to a detailed analysis of macroeconomic indicators in the form of graphs and verbal descriptions. Finally, in the section "4.6 The overall assessment" there is a summary of the gathered facts and the impact of flat tax on the economy of each relevant country.

This work deals with problems of flat tax, especially problems of personal income tax. The introduction is focused on Czech tax reform´s characterization, especially on reasons of this reform and on expected benefits. Subsequently there are mentioned and analyzed principles of a good tax system and of course there are mentioned the key principles of the flat tax. The practical part of this work deals with the flat tax´s impact on the state budged - could flat tax decrease income to state budget and consequently increase the public debt? In summary are recapitulated all facts about Czech flat tax. Follow there is evaluation of this reform {--} if flat tax encourage economic growth and if flat tax simplifies the tax system, if is Czech reform successful and reform´s advantages and disadvantages.

Introductory part of my thesis is aimed to describe the flat tax theory, its functioning and basic ideas of its presence as was described at the most elementary level by Robert Hall and Alvin Rabushka, American economists from Stanford{\crq}s University. I further describe reasons of the flat tax implementation in Slovakian environment because we used to share same cultural, political and economic history with this state. In the following passage of my thesis I analyzed a participation of particular taxes on Czech Republic{\crq}s public revenue budget. Next I defined the flat tax concepts including its rates introduced by the leading political parties of Czech Republic. I worked on a predictability of the tax revenue development when the flat tax is effective, while applied to model families. In the final capture I described the possible flat tax implementation impact on public budgets deficit financing in Czech Republic.

This thesis focuses on comparation of flat tax in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech republic and Slovakia. In first part is characterization of the flat tax according to its authors Hall and Rabushka and comparison real tax systems in these economies with theoretical concept and demands on good tax system. In final part includes evaluation of economic developement of chosen countries.

The aim of my diploma work is to present advantages of a flat tax system and compare its level of justice with progressive taxation system.In the first part I want to start with theoretical background and general economic mindset to the problem. The second part describes the real impact of the adoption of the system on public finance, a frequent subject of controversy, focusing on the economic environment of Slovakia and Czech republic. I will work with the official data from Czech Statistical Office using graphs and tables to show the trend of the general budget revenue before and after the adoption and the final impact on the general tax revenue. Adopting the system in 2008 and confronting the general tax revenue dropout during the financial crisis, the Czech data may not testify sufficiently. However, the flat tax adoption in Slovakia dated back in 2004 gives us four more years of statistics, which may adequately demonstrate what Czech numbers can't. The conclusion summarizes the total influence of the flat tax rate system on the economies of Czech republic and Slovakia

Why have Eastern European states adopted flat tax policies? That is what this dissertation answers. This is a curious development given that flat tax policies were noticeably absent from the landscape of most of the world, including Eastern Europe. Fives cases of adoption are examined, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. I argue that two simultaneous processes occur in Eastern Europe that makes adoption viable. First, at the domestic level, the idea of the flat tax is held in esteem by a number of actors, specifically: elite carriers, tax and financial ministers, think tanks and right-wing political parties. They champion this idea to its adoption, or at the least, introduce the flat tax into the policy-making apparatus. Second, at the international level, policy diffusion of the flat tax is taking place. In other words, the experience of previous adopters impacts the decisions of future adopters. Examining both cognitive heuristics theory and rational learning I argue that there are "varieties of diffusion" during the diffusion of the flat tax. Additionally, though this dissertation concerns itself primarily with adoption, I also investigate two cases of non-adoption in Poland and Hungary. What is argued is "diffusion without adoption" occurs. The idea of the flat tax diffused, but the adoption was not politically, ideologically, and economically feasible. / Political Science