Impact of the tax system of Ukraine on the functioning of local finance

The functioning of the tax system of Ukraine is carried out simultaneously at two levels – state and local. It is on the second that taxes are regarded as a powerful and stable source of financial resources for the local finance system. However, a significant drawback is that the proceeds of funds are carried out mainly from the functioning of the folding national taxes. Such distribution of taxes does not contribute to strengthening the financial independence of local finances. In the system of local finance in Ukraine, the dominant position is occupied by local budgets. It is in them that resources are concentrated in the form of tax and non-tax revenues, income from capital transactions and intergovernmental transfers. The opposite are expense items, for the financing of which the income is collected. And, as the study showed, in 2019–2021, the available revenues could not cover the costs. As a consequence of the above, during the study period, a high proportion was observed relative to interbudgetary transfers, which confirms the high level of dependence of local finances on the resources of the highest level budgets. At the same time, a study of the coverage of the expenditure side by collected taxes, which go to local budgets, showed a slight, but persistent trend of their growth. In particular, taxes on income, profits and an increase in market value increased 24.8 % of the share – from 31 % in 2019 to 55.8 % in 2021 (10 months), and local taxes – only 9 % (from 12.5 in 2019 to 21.5 % in 2021). At the same time, in 2016–2020, the share of personal income tax increased by 3.4 %, and income tax – decreased by 1.5 %. A significant positive point was that part of the excise tax – on the sale of excisable goods by retail entities – was 100 % attributed to local budgets. But resource taxes and payments have recently shown gravitation in the state budget. The instability of tax revenues complicates the process of budget planning, and also reduces the level of financial independence of local finances, which requires the improvement of the system of its financial support.

An Analysis of Optimal Tax Revenue Sharing for Mexico

We develop an analysis that identifies the characteristics of an optimal system of shared tax collection and intergovernmental transfers. Mathematical optimization is used to find the level of taxes and intergovernmental transfers. Formulas for the optimal level of taxes and transfers to subnational governments are characterized. We suggest reforms to intergovernmental transfers to include the costs of tax inefficiency, some tax equalization transfer rules, and the marginal social benefits of local public spending. Future research could include local public spending with regional externalities, migration, and consider a dynamic model. This article proposes an original theoretical model of optimal tax coordination and transfers. The optimal level of taxes and transfers are identified. This paper proposes reforms to the participation formula for subnational governments.

LOCAL BUDGETS IN UKRAINE: CURRENT TRENDS AND ISSUES

The dynamics of revenues and expenditures of the budget system of Ukraine in terms of the State and local budgets, and the system of intergovernmental transfers for the period 2010 – 2020 is studied in given scientific paper. The changes in the structure of revenues and expenditures of local budgets during this period as a result of financial decentralization and under the influence of various factors (political, economic, social) has been analysed too.

Robots Don't Pay Taxes: Deindustrialization and Fiscal Decline

Deindustrialization has fundamentally reshaped the economic geography of the United States. Between 1993 and 2007 alone, increasing automation—the use of industrial robots to perform tasks done by human workers—led to the loss of upwards of 750,000 jobs, primarily in the industrial Midwest and Northeast. Prior research demonstrates the social consequences of manufacturing’s decline extend beyond its impact on workers to undermine the health and economic prospects of entire communities. But through which mechanisms? This study examines the impact of increasing automation on local government finance. Exploiting spatial variation in the adoption of industrial robots, we find each additional robot per 1,000 workers is associated with a 10 percent relative decline in local government own-source revenues, a decline that is only partially offset by intergovernmental transfers. Moreover, we find that each robot per 1,000 workers leads to an 8 percent decline in K-12 education spending and a 30 percent decline in health spending. Our findings provide direct evidence of an oft-theorized but rarely examined mechanism through which place directly shapes life chances. We use our theoretical framework to motivate a Fiscal Sociology of place that centers the role of fiscal structures in the production of place-based inequalities.

Debt Burden of the Subjects of the Russian Federation

The growth of regional debts produces risks both at the regional level and in the sphere of intergovernmental relations. The article shows that with a low debt burden at a long-term level, the subjects of the Russian Federation are highly differentiated by the level of debt, and even with a decrease in overall debt, a variation of debt load is growing. On the basis of cluster analysis, four groups of the subjects of the Russian Federation were allocated, depending on the variation of the debt burden and the share of social spending in total regional expenditures. It is concluded that the level of debt burden and its dynamics are explained both by the socio-economic factors for the regional development and the quality of budget management in any subject of the Russian Federation. Accordingly, the procedure for the distribution of intergovernmental transfers and budgetary rules should be agreed with the accounting of objective relationships and institutional effects.

The Flypaper Effect and Desirable Legislative Changes to Local Government Financing Systems

A substantial portion of local government funding in Poland comes from intergovernmental transfers. It may lead to the flypaper effect, which means that external revenues contribute to greater local government spending than locally-collected revenues. This study analyses how different revenue categories influenced local government spending in Poland between 2009 and 2018. Panel econometric models are used to test a hypothesis about whether the flypaper effect occurred in that period and to identify the potential causes. The results confirm to some extent that all three levels of local government were affected by the flypaper effect, and they point to intergovernmental transfers (general grants, specific grants, and shares of corporate income tax revenue) as the main causes. The research findings can be of use in reforming local government funding legislation in Poland and other countries, especially when the size of the public sector and public spending need to be reduced.

A Comparative Approach to Fiscal Illusions: a Synthesis of the Conclusions from a Polish Study in Relation to New Ideas and Empirical Research in Selected Countries

This article examines fiscal illusions in public finance systems where decentralisation involving the introduction of an independent and autonomous component of local government funding brings new problems. It presents a synthesis of the findings from a Polish empirical study that set out to determine the types and extent of fiscal illusion among Polish councillors, focusing on the qualitative aspects of the phenomenon. It also compares the findings with other streams of research and new approaches to fiscal illusion. The purpose of the article is to systematise the knowledge of fiscal illusion based on selected empirical studies, to formulate proposals for practitioners and public decision‑makers, and to highlight areas for future research to address. The article was prepared using a desk research approach and the author’s own experiences and research perspective formed during the study of fiscal illusions. The findings presented in the article corroborate its main thesis that a local government funding system based on intergovernmental transfers contributes to the emergence and perpetuation of fiscal illusions.

WORLD EXPERIENCE OF TAX AND FEES MANAGEMENT

Introduction. Given the deepening disparities in the economic and social system of the state, political confrontations, resulting in imbalances in public finances and increased debt risks, the tax component should be the basis for the formation of budgetary resources of the state. State revenues determine the social and economic level of development of regions and countries, as well as financial support of the population. Looking at this, the main task of the state is to balance its revenues with expenditures. Since a significant excess of expenditures over revenues lead to an economic crisis, rising public debt, the budget deficit of others. The tax component is the basis for the formation of state budget resources in an unstable fiscal space. This is an important link that contributes to the development of social and economic relations and requires constant monitoring. Methods. The study uses the fundamental provisions of economic theory, tax theory, as well as studies of domestic and foreign scholars. General scientific principles of conducting complex scientific researches were used to solve the set tasks. In the process of research a number of general scientific methods were used, in particular: analogies, logical generalization and system analysis. Results. Based on the selected problems, the foreign experience of such countries as the USA, Germany, Canada, France, Japan, Australia, Great Britain and Italy was studied, on the basis of which the prospects of improving the collection of taxes and fees in Ukraine were singled out. Discussion. In order to solve the problems of collecting taxes and fees, it is necessary to: gradually shift the fiscal burden towards direct taxes, which will be a direct result of increasing the dependence of public authorities on the economic development of the territory; the preservation of the current rather high role of intergovernmental transfers is a consequence of the strong differentiation of regions according to the level of social and economic development and the objective necessity in modern conditions; competition between regions should, first of all, be carried out at the expense of formation of a favourable business environment: improvement of investment climate, development of infrastructure, reduction of administrative barriers, instead of establishment of preferential tax regimes. Prospects for further research on the collection of taxes and fees may be to strengthen the study not only of the level of tax burden, but also the optimal combination of direct and indirect taxes. Keywords: taxes, tax system, budget, budget revenues.