Jonathan Barrett, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand’s tax system might be in need of updating, but Revenue Minister David Parker’s new tax legislation is unnecessarily complicated at a time when we most need clarity.
The government is hamstrung by its election promise to not raise taxes or bring in new ones. That’s for this term, but its narrow majority is likely to make Labor wary at the next election of bold tax reform promises.
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
More than twice as many economists in the Economic Society of Australia poll picked “climate and the environment” as the most important election issue as picked housing, health, tax, or education.
The tax code can feel like a labyrinth.
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Peter Varela, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University; Kristen Sobeck, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, and Robert Breunig, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
We give the biggest concessions to those least likely to need persuasion to save well.
Nicolas Herault, The University of Melbourne; John Creedy, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Norman Gemmell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
At 33%, New Zealand’s highest income tax rate is relatively low compared to other economies. Lifting it and cutting tax for low-income earners could improve welfare.
Nurses in November 2016 expressed support for a ballot proposition to limit what California state agencies pay for prescription drugs.
AP/Nick Ut, file
Citizens voting directly on policy seems like a good idea. But that led to the Brexit mess in the UK. In the US, two scholars say direct democracy deepens distrust of politics and government.
Stanford will most likely have to pay a new higher ed tax.
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
The Stage 3 cuts would make Australia’s income tax system the least progressive in 60 years.
Individual givers, including celebrity couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, are the main source of charitable support.
Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
Although far fewer Americans took the charitable deduction on their tax returns, giving stayed fairly steady, according to the annual Giving USA report.
Coalition leader John Hewson had trouble selling his economic policy platform to the electorate.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA
All the polls suggested the Keating government would be finished at the 1993 election – until Opposition Leader John Hewson launched a 650-page policy document called “Fightback!”.
Marital status is a defining characteristic of U.S. tax law.
AP Photo/Keith Srakocic