In recent years, two distinct but related questions have been raised with respect to value-added taxes (VATs). Concern has been expressed over whether it is desirable or even possible for both national and subnational governments in federal countries such as India, Argentina, and Russia to...

We compare and contrast theCVAT and VIVAT approaches discussed in the preceding papers byMcLure and Keen and Smith with the dual VAT originally discussedin our 1998 paper. We conclude that each of these approachesseems most suitable to different circumstances, but that noneof them answers all...

One of the main rationales for taxing consumption rather than income is that it is believed that consumption taxes discourage consumption, encourage savings, and thus generate higher economic growth. However, empirical evidence on the actual effectiveness of consumption taxes in stimulating...