Suchergebnisse

Drawing on the most prominent research in the field, this timely book offers bold new fiscal policies that can complement current automatic stabilizers and counter-cyclical monetary policy to help combat recessions. Dr. Seidman argues for an independent fiscal policy board or the Federal Reserve to decide changes in the magnitude of Congress's fiscal policy package of stimulus or restraint, with recommendations going into effect immediately, subject only to Congressional override

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Tables and Figures -- Preface -- I. Introduction to Economics -- 1. An Economist's Genesis -- II. Microeconomics -- 2. Markets: Demand and Supply -- 3. Environmental Pollution -- 4. International Trade -- III. Macroeconomics -- 5. Recession -- 6. Inflation -- 7. Growth -- 8. Growth Through Tax Reform -- IV. Policy Issues -- 9. The Social Contract -- 10. Social Security -- 11. Health Insurance -- 12. Education -- 13. Poverty -- Index -- About the Author.

A serious consideration of the debate on social security reform that is taking place in many countries around the world. Professor Seidman advocates the concept of 'funded social security' as a middle position between pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) social security and privatized social security, and constitutes a politically strategic alternative. His analysis covers two distinct components, fund accumulation and portfolio diversification. The concept of funded social security uses a mix of payroll taxes and portfolio investment income to finance benefits. With funded social security, the government contracts with private investment firms to manage the portfolio of the social security trust fund. It is entirely a defined-benefit plan without any individual defined-contribution accounts; each retiree's benefit is linked by a legislated formula to the retiree's own wage history. The benefit is an annuity - an annual benefit that continues as long as the retiree (or spouse) lives - and is automatically adjusted annually for inflation

It is asserted that low-income households could more easily accumulate assets if refundable tax credits were added through the personal income tax. An overview of the earned income tax credit's origins is presented to demonstrate its political implications for establishing an individual development account tax credit. It is subsequently argued that the creation of a tax credit for individual development accounts would complement the earned income tax credit; whereas the earned income tax credit encourages low-income individuals to work, it is claimed that the individual development account tax credit would persuade such individuals to save. Similarities in the functions of individual development account tax credits for poor American families & of individual retirement accounts for middle-class families are noted. A design for creating an individual development account tax credit that is based upon the individual development account section of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act is also presented. 6 Tables, 15 References. J. W. Parker

It is asserted that low-income households could more easily accumulate assets if refundable tax credits were added through the personal income tax. An overview of the earned income tax credit's origins is presented to demonstrate its political implications for establishing an individual development account tax credit. It is subsequently argued that the creation of a tax credit for individual development accounts would complement the earned income tax credit; whereas the earned income tax credit encourages low-income individuals to work, it is claimed that the individual development account tax credit would persuade such individuals to save. Similarities in the functions of individual development account tax credits for poor American families & of individual retirement accounts for middle-class families are noted. A design for creating an individual development account tax credit that is based upon the individual development account section of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act is also presented. 6 Tables, 15 References. J. W. Parker