316-329 The Economics of Taxation

Students may not obtain credit for both 316-329 The Economics of Taxation and 316-305 Public Finance (1998 Handbook).

316-202 Intermediate Microeconomics.

Topics include review of the economic framework for analysing decision making; background to the Australian and other relevant taxation systems; issues and controversies in relation to the tax system and taxpayer decisions; objectives of tax collectors and taxpayers; why taxes exist; options and issues concerning tax bases: income, company profits, expenditures, wealth; the economic impact of taxes on work effort, prices, consumption and saving, investment and financial decisions, corporate investment and corporate financing, welfare, the international location of profits, tax avoidance and evasion; economic analysis of taxpayer decisions concerning legal entities, filing procedures, objections and reviews, negotiation strategies; and policy decisions concerning the tax mix, rate structures and administrative options, legal processes.

• High level of development: written communication; problem solving; application of theory to practice; interpretation and analysis; critical thinking; receptiveness to alternative ideas.

• Moderate level of development: collaborative learning; team work; statistical reasoning; evaluation of data and other information; accessing data and other information from a range of sources.

• Some level of development: oral communication; synthesis of data and other information; use of computer software.

A 2-hour end-of-semester examination (60%), assignments totalling not more than 2000 words (20%) and case studies (20%).