This paper addresses two fundamental issues in indirect tax design. It first revisits the case for reduced rates on items especially important to the poor, establishing conditions under which even very crudely targeted spending measures better serve their interests. It then explores the welfare...

This paper shows that under imperfect competition the welfare effects of indirect tax harmonization may depend crucially on whether taxes are levied by the destination or the origin principle. In a standard model of imperfect competition, while harmonization always makes at least one country...

This paper examines the case for internationally coordinated indirect taxes on aviation (as a source of general revenue-not (necessarily) as a source of development finance). The case for such taxes is strong: the tax burden on international aviation is currently limited, yet it contributes...

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. TYPES OF AVIATION TAX -- III. AVIATION TAXES IN PRACTICE -- IV. ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER EXTERNALITIES -- V. TAXING INTERNATIONAL AVIATION: BASIC PRINCIPLES -- VI. THE IMPLICATIONS OF NON-ENVIRONMENTAL DISTORTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL AVIATION -- VII....