基于政府职能转变的财政支出改革研究

宏观税负的高低没有固定的判断标准,其合理程度取决于财政支出结构的合理性。我国财政支出结构存在的主要问题是经济建设比重偏高、医疗保健支出比重偏低、社会保障支出不足等问题。基于政府职能转变的要求,我国现行的财政支出结构应进行战略性调整,着力建立符合现代市场要求的公共财政,具体改革思路是按照政府职能转变的要求重新界定政府支出范围、合理划分中央与地方的财权和事权、遵循公共财政的基本功能,不断调整和优化财政支出结构、规范政府转移支付制度、加强财政支出管理以及提高财政支出的透明度,建立起符合现代市场要求的公共财政,以此确定合理的、适度的宏观税负水平。     

开放经济条件下内外均衡的政策搭配问题研究

近期我国经济内外失衡程度进一步加大,而国家所实施的应对政策因受诸多因素制约其调控效果不够理想,政策调节难度增加。本文根据开放经济下内外均衡的政策调节理论,立足我国经济现状,进行了系统分析,研究了当前我国经济内外失衡的特征并提出政策建议。     

环境税的短期与长期效应分析

环境税是在“可持续发展”这一理论框架下提出的重要税种,而且在一些西方国家已经实施很多年。目前环境税的开征在我国已经逐步提上日程。借鉴西方国家实施环境税的经验,本文认为,政府在征收环境税的时候,应注重其“大棒”与“胡萝卜”双重效应,分析其短期与长期效应,权衡政府与企业的关系,只有这样才能使环境税的实施达到预期的效果。     

‘An Incomplete Contract Approach to Eurozone Fiscal Governance’ – Commitment vs. Flexibility

In this paper, we take an incomplete contract approach to Eurozone Fiscal Governance between the European Commission (EC) and any heavily debt member state, Greece in particular. Incomplete contract approach makes possible to put a long process of Eurozone Fiscal Governance into an extensive form game in which a renegotiation procedure is incorporated. We theoretically reveal the conflict of interests between the EC (Germany) and Greece over the Greek debt repayment plan proposed in 2015. We show that the Greek’s position is consistent with incomplete contract theory, but that the EC (Germany) does not allow the renegotiation for restructuring for growth-oriented debt repayment program proposed by the Greek government because the EC (Germany) judges that the commitment effect (on fiscal austerity) is greater than the flexibility one (pro-growth effect). This will undoubtedly provide a novel and interesting approach to Eurozone Fiscal Governance.     

Population ageing in healthcare – a minor issue? Evidence from Switzerland

Our study shows that population ageing is a relevant determinant of healthcare expenditure (HCE). This conclusion supports the popular, but recently strongly contested, view that the coming population ageing will threaten the fiscal sustainability of health systems. We contribute to this debate, first by estimating the determinants of Swiss HCE with outlier-robust dynamic regressions, and second, by projecting Swiss HCE based on the estimates produced and new population scenarios. Medical advances and GDP per capita also play a decisive role. Governments can mitigate HCE growth by improving the health status of the population and by stimulating cost-effective and productive medical advances.