Decentralized systems of government finance give rise to fiscal disparities due to interjurisdictional variations in tax bases and expenditure needs. Intergovernmental aid is used to address such disparities. This article explores changes in local tax capacity and intergovernmental aid resulting...

This paper reviews the literature on tax assignment in decentralized countries. Ideally, own-source revenues should be sufficient to enable at least the richest subnational governments to finance from their own resources all locally-provided services that primarily benefit local residents....

Excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco have long been a dependable and significant revenue source in many countries. More recently, considerable attention has been paid to the way in which such taxes may also be used to attain public health objectives by reducing the consumption of products with...

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Tables -- Preface -- One. Public Finance and Economic Development -- 1. Public Finance and Development in Colombia -- 2. The Developmental Task of Tax Policy -- Two. Tax Structure Reform -- 3. Growth, Equity, and the Income Tax -- 4. Taxation and the Allocation of...