Abstract In this paper a local tax to finance local public goods is discussed. The intention is to tax citizens upon their willingness to pay for public goods. The idea to base the tax on a private good that indicates the value of public goods is considered. Land is a private good that satisfies...

With the 2005 reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, a commitment was made to actively consolidate public finances in good times and to use unexpected extra revenues for deficit and debt reduction and not for additional expenditure. Against this background this study provides evidence of a lax...