Suchergebnisse

In this paper, we analyse the impact of the implementation of a child tax credit in Austria in 2018. We combine microsimulation techniques, labour supply modelling and dynamic general equilibrium modelling to make an ex ante evaluation of the reform, accounting also for behavioural responses of individuals. We show that although the macroeconomic effect of the Austrian reform is expected to be relatively small, accounting for feedback effects on a micro-level is very important, especially when analysing socioeconomic and policy-relevant indicators, such as poverty and inequality. When focusing on the distributional implications and the impact on poverty, our analysis highlights that the first-round effects of the child tax credit substantially underestimate the increase in household income for households with children. Additionally, we find that when accounting for second-round effects, the loss in tax revenues is partly offset. The estimated self-financing effect of the reform is estimated to be about 13 per cent. Our results also indicate that part of the associated tax decrease can be potentially captured by the employer, meaning that gross wages are expected to fall slightly. Therefore, in the medium term, some households without children might suffer a small reduction in their disposable income. Overall, our analysis highlights the importance of accounting for second-round effects when analysing tax reforms ex ante.

This paper analyses the impact of the implementation of a child tax credit in Austria in 2019, not only on micro, but also on macro level by using a dynamic scoring methodology. First, we assess the fiscal and distributional impact of this reform using the microsimulation model EUROMOD. Second, we estimate labour supply impacts of the reform based on a structural discrete choice framework. Third, we evaluate the macroeconomic impacts of the reform, by calibrating and shocking QUEST, the DSGE model of the European Commission, with the micro-based results for the implicit tax rate, the non-participation and the labour supply elasticities. We show that the child tax credit reform in Austria reduces inequality, lowers the poverty rate in general, but by definition only for households with children. Overall the reform has a positive impact on labour supply, both on the extensive and on the intensive margin, especially for women. On the macro-level (and in the long-run), our model suggests a positive impact on employment. Additionally, we find that parts of the tax decrease can be potentially captured by the employer, meaning that gross wages would fall slightly. However, we find small but positive effects on GDP, investment and consumption, although the longrun macroeconomic effects depend crucially on how the government compensates the missing tax revenues after the reform. Accounting for these feedback effects at the micro level with a new methodology, we show that the second round effects are important to take into account, because they provide insights into the medium-term distributional impact of the reform.

In this paper, I present the results of empirical research and practical pilot programmes carried out in the frame of an international project. The project was about the promotion of pro bono activities among university students, involving corporate experts and non-profit companies. The conclusions of the research and the pilot programmes implemented over two years, several of which were digitally implemented during the covid period, show that young people are open to volunteering and willing to participate in well-organised and prepared pro bono activities. For higher education institutions, integrating pro bono into the curricular portfolio is an excellent way to increase the practicality of education, strengthen business links and, last but not least, increase young people's social awareness. The particular value of the pro bono activities carried out digitally during the covid period is how the volunteer programme was able to adapt to the challenges of the virus situation and how it was able to successfully implement pro bono programmes in the online space, involving corporate professionals, non-profit grantees, and academic experts. The conclusions could be useful for professionals in higher education as well as for non-profit organizations on how to make knowledge-sharing pro bono activities work to the benefit of all stakeholders on how to make knowledge-sharing pro bono activities work to the benefit of all stakeholders.

The adoption of flat tax systems in Central and Eastern European countries have often been supported by arguments of simplicity, higher compliance and lower distortionary effects. However, since income inequality is high in these countries, the question of introducing some progressivity has come to the fore in both policy and academic circles. In this paper, we combine microsimulation and macro models to analyze the effects of moving from a flat to a progressive tax system and we find that a reduction in income inequality can be achieved with positive, albeit negligible, employment and growth impact.

AbstractIn this paper, we present the first dynamic scoring exercise linking a microsimulation and a dynamic general equilibrium model for Europe. We illustrate our novel methodology analyzing hypothetical reforms of the social insurance contributions system in Belgium. Our approach takes into account the feedback effects resulting from adjustments and behavioral responses in the labor market and the economy‐wide reaction to the tax policy changes essential for a comprehensive evaluation of the reforms. We find that the self‐financing effect of a reduction in employers' social insurance contribution is substantially larger than that of a comparable reduction in employees' social insurance contributions.

This paper presents the first dynamic scoring exercise linking a microsimulation and a dynamic general equilibrium model for Europe. We illustrate our novel methodology by analysing hypothetical reforms of the social insurance contributions system in Belgium. Our approach takes into account the feedback effects resulting from adjustments and behavioural responses in the labour market and the economy-wide reaction to tax policy changes, essential for a comprehensive evaluation of the reforms. We find that the self-financing effect of a reduction in employers' social insurance contribution is substantially larger than that of a comparable reduction in employees' social insurance contributions.

In this paper, we present the first dynamic scoring exercise linking a microsimulation and a dynamic general equilibrium model for Europe. We illustrate our novel methodology analysing hypothetical reforms of the social insurance contributions system in Belgium. Our approach takes into account the feedback effects resulting from adjustments and behavioral responses in the labor market and the economy-wide reaction to the tax policy changes, essential for a comprehensive evaluation of the reforms. We find that the self-financing effect of a reduction in employers' social insurance contribution is substantially larger than that of a comparable reduction in employees' social insurance contributions.