Sustainability in EU Tax Law

Intereconomics - As sustainability embeds concepts of economic prosperity and growth, the idea of pursuing it through law — and through lawyers, with their tendency to focus on rights, as...     

欧盟各国税收制度竞争与协调现状分析

伴随着欧洲经济一体化的不断扩大,欧盟各国普遍采用税收竞争的手段来吸引外来投资,改善本国企业竞争力,对于这种税收竞争所带来的后果,各国评价不一.文章试图通过对欧盟各国税收既有竞争又希望协调的现状进行分析,来探讨如何在欧盟内部消除有害税收竞争,实现税收协调的目标.     

欧盟应对气候变化的边境调节税:新的贸易壁垒

《京都议定书》生效,承担减排义务的附件I国家开始面临竞争力损失和实现减排目标相冲突的两难困境。边境调节税被认为是一个解决问题的好办法,但其在环境问题上的应用是近年来国外学术界讨论的一个热点问题,特别是在气候变化问题上的应用争议较大。最近欧盟有关方面提出要对来自非减排国家的工业化产品征收边境调节税,引起较大的反响。文章从边境调节税的概念及其相关的性质出发,分析了欧盟当前行动的动机与政策应用的前景,对于其可能造成对中欧贸易的影响进行了展望,并分析了这种做法与当前国际贸易制度和国际气候制度的兼容性,认为这种做法缺乏合法性和合理性。     

Default Patterns in Seven EU Countries: A Random Forest Approach

This study uses the relatively new “random forest” (RF) approach, which is based on decision-tree analysis by combining the results of a large set of decision trees. RFs have so far been little used for default prediction but offer an interesting alternative to well-established default prediction techniques. Based on accounting data from 945,062 observed European firms from seven countries in 2010 and 1,019,312 firms in 2011, we provide evidence on the country-specific default patterns. Because of the strong imbalance of the data sets with regard to the solvency status, standard RF implementations have to be modified to allow the estimation of realistic default propensities. We find that by far most accurate out-of-sample default propensities can be obtained for Italy followed by Portugal and Spain and the least accurate for the UK and Finland. The debt ratio, rate of return on sales, dynamic gearing ratio, and the rate of return on assets are found to be the most important variables for default prediction. The variable importance rankings are rather country specific, pointing to heterogeneity in the default patterns across the countries studied.     

发展中国家的税制累进性与再分配

发展中国家社会经济运行不规范、人均收入低、政府能力相对较差会使税制的名义累进性与实际累进性发生较大脱节.因此,一方面,在收入分配调节方面,发展中国家的税制累进性很可能具有不同于发达国家税制的特点;另一方面,发展中国家税制的再分配能力确实较发达国家差.鉴于此,在发展中国家的再分配调节过程中,应当有一些新思路:再分配效果并非指某个特定累进税种或整个税制的再分配效果,而应当是整个财政制度的再分配效果.发展中国家在实现再分配目标时,应当将整个税制纳入到财政制度的框架中,而不能纠结于某个特定税种的累进性及其在税制中的比重,即不能片面重视税制的累进性.在再分配过程中,发展中国家税制的首要任务应当是以尽量少的效率损失为再分配财政支出筹集收入,同时也可以通过税制本身的优化,努力提高税制的实际累进性,以在再分配中发挥辅助调节作用.     

Propensity to Support Sustainability Initiatives: A Cross-National Model

Businesses and the social sciences are increasingly facing calls to further scholarship dedicated to understand sustainability. Furthermore, multinationals are also facing similar calls given their high profile and their role in environmental degradation. However, a literature review shows that there is very limited understanding of sustainability at a cross-national level. Given the above gaps, we contribute to the literature by examining how selected GLOBE [House et al., Culture, leadership and organizations: The GOBE study of 62 societies. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, 2004] cultural dimensions are related to individuals’ propensity to support sustainability initiatives in 33 countries. We use data from the World Values Survey [World Values Study Group, World Values Surveys and European Value Surveys, 1999–2001. Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, Ann Arbor, 2004] and test our hypotheses using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM). Results support all but one hypothesis. Specifically, uncertainty avoidance is not related to propensity to support sustainability initiatives. In contrast, performance orientation and assertiveness have the desired negative relationship with our dependent variable while collectivism, future orientation, and human orientation have the desired positive relationship. We discuss the conceptual and practical implications of this study.     

论纳税评估指标体系的构建及评估模型

纳税评估是提高税收征管效率的重要手段.本文根据企业财务会计信息的特点及其与应纳所得税之间的相关关系,构建了企业所得税纳税评估指标体系,并运用多层模糊数学模型,对纳税评估指标体系进行定量分析,为税务部门开展纳税评估工作提供可靠的理论依据.     

Management Information System – A Tool for Corporate Sustainability

This paper represents the attempt to define a methodology that can evaluate the degree to which companies' information systems correspond to needs determined by the objectives of sustainability the firm imposes on itself. The result is the creation of a general model which define the correct approach to evaluating information systems – a model which should be adapted to the specificity of each single company which intends to adopt it. In the chart indicated, we obviously have not considered activities connected to the implementation of the survey system, which are particular to each company's situation. The first part of the paper consists of an overall introduction to the approach that has been used to assess the (MIS) of Granarolo, one of the Italian companies involved. The case study contains a profile of the company, the analysis of its MIS referred to the three dimensions of sustainability, and an evaluation of the strong points and issues to be developed. This approach to evaluate the gap between desired requirements of an information system for sustainability and current data available in a firm, has proved its consistency and usefulness. It helps to understand where data are, which dimensions, spheres, stakeholders account for and what is the level of integration between different information systems existing in the firm.     

Firm Leadership and Innovative Performance: Evidence from Seven EU Countries

This paper considers the effect of different firm leadership on the innovative performance of firms from seven EU countries. We investigate whether owner-led or manager-led firms achieve a larger share of their turnover with product innovations. Economic theory does not propose clear answers to this question. In the empirical analysis, it turns out that the manager-led firms are more active innovators: the share of sales based on new products is larger if firms' managers do not hold any of the firms' capital. Surprisingly, there are no differences between the seven countries included in the regression analysis.     

Fixed Wages or Productivity Pay: Evidence from 15 EU Countries

A simple model of the firms' decision to pay workers productivity related pay is tested using individual worker level data from 15 EU member states. We find empirical support for the key hypotheses of Lazear type PRP models which relate to firm size and permanence of employment. Other issues such as the organisation of production and the nature of the product or service were found to be very peripheral to the use of PRP systems across countries.     

Integration of Refugees: Lessons from Bosnians in Five EU Countries

In this study, we reviewed the integration experience of Bosnian refugees displaced during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. We compare reception conditions among the five Western European countries that played host to the majority of refugees at the time and track their labour market experience as well as, to the extent possible, education outcomes of second generation Bosnians.     

The Institutional Requirements Of Apprenticeship: Evidence From Smaller EU Countries

To what extent does the experience of other European econom‐ies in which apprenticeship has proved successful suggest scope for reviving apprenticeship in the UK without requiring institutional regulation along German lines? The institutional attributes of apprenticeship in four smaller European economies (Austria, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands) are shown to be closer to Germany’s social partnership than to the UK’s deregulated market, in terms of: statutory governance; formal educational requirements; administration at sec‐toral and local levels through social partnership; and funding based upon a clear separation of responsibilities between government and employers, though not between employers and apprentices. At the same time, the introduction of statu‐tory apprenticeship into Irish industry in recent years, in an institutional environment that has traditionally had much in common with that of the UK, suggests that the scope for institutional development in support of apprenticeship has been obscured by the widespread tendency to limit the choice of international comparisons to the Anglo‐Germanic.     

A Heuristic Model for Establishing Trade-Offs in Corporate Sustainability Performance Measurement Systems

Consumer trust is a key prerequisite for establishing a market for credence goods, such as “green” products, especially when they are premium priced. This article reports research on exactly how, and how much, trust influences consumer decisions to buy new green products. It identifies consumer trust as a distinct volition factor influencing the likelihood that consumers will act on green intentions and strongly emphasizes the needs to manage consumer trust as a prerequisite for the development of a market for green products. Specifically, based on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods, it is found that lack of consumer trust is a barrier for the development of a market for organic food in Thailand. Two focus groups and ten in-depth interviews revealed low knowledge about and low trust in organic food, certification, control, and labeling. Further, a mall-intercept survey (N = 177) revealed that lack of (especially) system trust reduces consumer expectations about benefits of buying organic food, and it makes them less likely to buy organic food. Mistrust in the control system and in the authenticity of food sold as organic has a significant negative impact on self-reported buying behavior. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.     

Tax Practitioners' Ethical Sensitivity: A Model and Empirical Examination

Ethical sensitivity triggers the entire ethical decision-making process (i.e., recognition of ethical content in work situations). In this article, five factors are examined that affect tax practitioners' professional ethical sensitivity. The five factors that were examined include role conflict, role ambiguity, job satisfaction, professional commitment, and ethical orientation. Ethical content in work situations is examined in relation to professional ethics as enumerated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant's (AICPA) Statements on Responsibilities in Tax Practice (SRTP). Utilizing Hunt and Vitell's (1986, 1993) General Theory of Ethics, a model of ethical sensitivity was constructed and empirically tested. Role conflict negatively and job satisfaction positively influenced tax practitioners' ethical sensitivity. Also, the covariates of the tax practitioner's professional risk level and type of employer were found to be significant. The significant factors are job specific. The tax firm may have the best opportunity to positively change a tax practitioner's ethical recognition abilities. Professional accounting organizations may need to evaluate if resources should be used to formulate, maintain, and publicize codes of conduct because of the lack of significance of professional commitment.     

发达国家中小企业税收政策对我国的启示

发达国家非常重视中小企业,采取种种税收鼓励措施扶持其发展。我国没有建立起规范的中小企业税收制度,政策优惠力度不足,增值税制不完善,需要进一步建立与完善有利于中小企业发展的税收政策体系,提高税法级次,调整现行政策,加大对中小企业的税收支持力度,促进中小企业的快速发展。     

"营改增"的经济效应与增值税制度完善:一个文献综述

本文全面地阐述了"营改增"的经济效应,着重分析"营改增"对企业税负变化、 财税体制改革与收入分配的影响,及其在供给侧结构性改革背景下的作用.剖析了已有研究成果的观点、 分歧与原因.结合文献及改革趋势,认为需通过减并税率、 清理税收优惠,以进一步发挥增值税中性作用;针对部分行业对过渡性政策表现出的不适或政策缺位,未来应逐步完善立法、 慎发过渡性政策;此外,结合国内外税制变动趋势应加强征管、 增强国际竞争力.     

企业文化状况的模糊综合评估

企业文化对于企业管理和企业发展的作用已在国内外形成共识,而要高效率、高效益地建设企业文化,应当先对企业文化状况进行评估。为此,建立企业文化状况的模糊综合评估模型,了解评估指标的选取和模型的应用及该方法在应用中的注意事项。     

Explaining the Uneven Economic Performance of the EU Cohesion Countries: An Export-Led Growth Approach

This article explains the differences in growth rates between the cohesion countries of the EU: Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Employing a decomposition growth approach, it is found that the main driver of growth differences lies in productivity. The remarkably higher Irish growth rates in the 1990s are sourced to greater productivity growth resulting from higher investment in human capital and technology. The export-led growth approach reasonably predicts the growth rates and the prediction is more precise when differences in productivity growth are controlled for. Higher economic growth is explained by the higher income elasticity of exports relative to imports.     

Eco-Enterprise Strategy: Standing for Sustainability

Enterprise strategy provides an accepted theoretical framework for integrating the moral responsibilities of organizations into their strategy formulation and implementation processes. We argue that, when extended to the ecological level of analysis, enterprise strategy provides a sound theoretical framework for ethically and strategically accounting for the ultimate stakeholder, planet Earth. Within the framework of enterprise strategy, a value system based on sustainability can provide a sound ethical basis for developing ecologically sensitive strategic management systems which allow organizations to satisfy the demands of the myriad green stakeholders that represent the planet in the immediate business arena. This provides a new "flavor" of enterprise strategy in which organizations "stand for sustainability." We call this new flavor "eco-enterprise strategy."     

The Stakeholder Approach: A Sustainability Perspective

This article considers the stakeholder approach (SHA) to organisational management through the lens of what it means for humans to live sustainably on the Earth (that is, for there to be a sustainable world). In particular, the article considers if the SHA, as it is presented in mainstream academic and management literature, is supportive of corporate practices that advance the achievement of a sustainable world. The analysis shows the SHA to have significant failings in this regard when viewed against key sustainable world criteria, with issues of concern evident from the normative core of the SHA through to is practical application in the management setting.