An International Comparison of Corporate Financial Policy. Our research contributes to the finance discipline, corporate decision making and public policy. Existing empirical literature provides managers with insights on the impact of firm characteristics on corporate financial decisions. However, beyond suggesting that well-functioning banks, equity and bond markets are an integral part of corporate financing, no insight is provided as to the role played by the public policy, legal structures a ....An International Comparison of Corporate Financial Policy. Our research contributes to the finance discipline, corporate decision making and public policy. Existing empirical literature provides managers with insights on the impact of firm characteristics on corporate financial decisions. However, beyond suggesting that well-functioning banks, equity and bond markets are an integral part of corporate financing, no insight is provided as to the role played by the public policy, legal structures and the suppliers of capital. In a market such as Australia, where superannuation is a large and increasing part of corporate funding, this is a glaring omission. This study seeks to examine the impact of public policy, legal and institutional structures on these financial choices.Read moreRead less
The Dynamics Shaping Underground Economic Behaviour. Tax evasion and the underground economy have recently become a topical issue in Australia. The underground economy is said to exist when a person either fails to declare cash earnings or overstates consumption expenditure in order to minimise their tax paying obligations. This current project will undertake the first international analysis of the behaviour of those participating in the underground economy and how these individuals respond to c ....The Dynamics Shaping Underground Economic Behaviour. Tax evasion and the underground economy have recently become a topical issue in Australia. The underground economy is said to exist when a person either fails to declare cash earnings or overstates consumption expenditure in order to minimise their tax paying obligations. This current project will undertake the first international analysis of the behaviour of those participating in the underground economy and how these individuals respond to changes in taxes and economic opportunities. The results will contribute to future decisions that may affect tax policy, tax audit programs and taxpayer compliance initiative strategies, particularly those affecting Australia. Read moreRead less
Talent Mismatch: Evidence from Australian Administrative Tax Records. The project aims to study the skill composition of the Australian workforce. Changes in the macroeconomic and technology environments make it hard to predict skill shortage. The project expects to develop macroeconomic models quantifying skill-mismatch of university graduates, identify sources of mismatch, highlight gender and generational differences, and estimate associated costs to Australia. The expected outcomes are to he ....Talent Mismatch: Evidence from Australian Administrative Tax Records. The project aims to study the skill composition of the Australian workforce. Changes in the macroeconomic and technology environments make it hard to predict skill shortage. The project expects to develop macroeconomic models quantifying skill-mismatch of university graduates, identify sources of mismatch, highlight gender and generational differences, and estimate associated costs to Australia. The expected outcomes are to help shape policy recommendations on the funding of tertiary education in a changing economic climate. This should provide significant benefits to Australians, as policies shaping the tertiary education system affect individual income and the aggregate economy by determining labour supply and taxpayers' financial burden.Read moreRead less
Superannuation as Inheritance: Law, Practice and Reform. Given that Australian retirees are leaving behind billions of superannuation assets for inheritance, this project aims to obtain accurate real world findings about how superfunds distribute superannuation inheritances in practice. Current law has not kept pace with reality, largely leaving superfund trustees to decide how to bequest their deceased members’ excess superannuation. Australian families are at the mercy of superfunds. The expec ....Superannuation as Inheritance: Law, Practice and Reform. Given that Australian retirees are leaving behind billions of superannuation assets for inheritance, this project aims to obtain accurate real world findings about how superfunds distribute superannuation inheritances in practice. Current law has not kept pace with reality, largely leaving superfund trustees to decide how to bequest their deceased members’ excess superannuation. Australian families are at the mercy of superfunds. The expected outcomes of this project include evidence-based proposals to reform industry practice and the law. These reforms will promote respect for Australians’ testamentary wishes, safeguard against abuse, and advance societal interests in philanthropy, wealth equality and fiscal responsibility.Read moreRead less
Safeguarding the domestic tax base in a world without investment borders. Reform of Australia's tax rules applying to business investments abroad will ensure the continued protection of the domestic tax base while removing disincentives that discourage Australian enterprises from investing overseas and foreign enterprises from using Australia as a site for regional investment. Enabling more Australian firms to invest abroad and attracting foreign capital inflows by investors seeking to use Austr ....Safeguarding the domestic tax base in a world without investment borders. Reform of Australia's tax rules applying to business investments abroad will ensure the continued protection of the domestic tax base while removing disincentives that discourage Australian enterprises from investing overseas and foreign enterprises from using Australia as a site for regional investment. Enabling more Australian firms to invest abroad and attracting foreign capital inflows by investors seeking to use Australia as a politically stable platform for foreign investment will contribute to the restoration of a balance of payments equilibrium and strengthen the Australian economy vis-à-vis those of Australia's key regional trading partners.Read moreRead less
GST and the global economy: identifying the underlying causes of consumption tax conflicts affecting cross-border trade. This project will provide an independent analysis of the desirability of particular types of destination based jurisdictional rule in a GST/VAT in light of their effects on global trade and revenue collection. Focussing on basic principles, the project will assess the relationship between the ideal subject of the tax (consumption) and the practical effects of existing laws (wh ....GST and the global economy: identifying the underlying causes of consumption tax conflicts affecting cross-border trade. This project will provide an independent analysis of the desirability of particular types of destination based jurisdictional rule in a GST/VAT in light of their effects on global trade and revenue collection. Focussing on basic principles, the project will assess the relationship between the ideal subject of the tax (consumption) and the practical effects of existing laws (which tax their own peculiar concept of consumption). The inclusion of comparative research on developing and transition countries will enable Australia to assess the outcomes of the concurrent OECD and EC work in this area from a broader perspective and to evaluate the effects of its own laws on both global trade and the revenue of Australia and its trading partners.Read moreRead less
Investing over the Life Cycle. This project will investigate efficiency questions raised by the private and public management of assets within defined contribution pension plans. Because investment risk in such plans falls on the contributing household, they need to be managed with care. The first phase of the project will examine optimal equity investments on behalf of contributing households. The second phase will consider the scope and limits of market-timing endeavours involving switches bet ....Investing over the Life Cycle. This project will investigate efficiency questions raised by the private and public management of assets within defined contribution pension plans. Because investment risk in such plans falls on the contributing household, they need to be managed with care. The first phase of the project will examine optimal equity investments on behalf of contributing households. The second phase will consider the scope and limits of market-timing endeavours involving switches between broad asset classes. The third phase will consider optimal currency hedging. The final phase will consider the optimal taxation of pension fund assets at different points in the household's life cycle.Read moreRead less
Optimal Tax Policy Meets Modern Labour Supply Theory. This project aims to generate new evidence on the optimal design of the federal tax system. Specifically, it seeks to determine the optimal combination of taxes on income, capital and consumption to raise necessary revenue while minimizing disincentives for work and capital formation. The project is innovative because, for the first time, it does optimal tax calculations using models that account fully for how taxes affect human capital inves ....Optimal Tax Policy Meets Modern Labour Supply Theory. This project aims to generate new evidence on the optimal design of the federal tax system. Specifically, it seeks to determine the optimal combination of taxes on income, capital and consumption to raise necessary revenue while minimizing disincentives for work and capital formation. The project is innovative because, for the first time, it does optimal tax calculations using models that account fully for how taxes affect human capital investment and labour force participation. It aims to enhance or understanding of the optimal mix between taxes on earnings, capital and consumption, and the optimal degree of income tax progressivity. The benefit is a tax system better designed to promote economic efficiency and human capital formation. Read moreRead less
Sustainable fiscal federalism and reform of the GST distribution system. The primary source of funds for Australian States and Territories is GST revenue distributed by the Commonwealth using an equalisation formula that has proved to be politically unsustainable and in recent times manifestly inadequate to provide the revenue needed in response to crises and natural disasters. A tipping point has been reached and reform is urgently needed. Drawing on international experience with GST distributi ....Sustainable fiscal federalism and reform of the GST distribution system. The primary source of funds for Australian States and Territories is GST revenue distributed by the Commonwealth using an equalisation formula that has proved to be politically unsustainable and in recent times manifestly inadequate to provide the revenue needed in response to crises and natural disasters. A tipping point has been reached and reform is urgently needed. Drawing on international experience with GST distributions specifically and fiscal federalism more generally, the project aims to develop a reform blueprint for a sustainable and equitable fiscal federalism regime in Australia that best aligns with Australia’s current and long-term fiscal needs.Read moreRead less
International Trade Policy Evaluation, Economic Growth and Demographics. The research will strengthen our understanding of Australia's place in the region and the world. Given Australia's dependence upon international trade, the importance of economic growth and demographic change, the relevance of inter-generation welfare and the challenges arising from globalization and the international trade policy environment, knowledge of the power and implications of international trade policies is crucia ....International Trade Policy Evaluation, Economic Growth and Demographics. The research will strengthen our understanding of Australia's place in the region and the world. Given Australia's dependence upon international trade, the importance of economic growth and demographic change, the relevance of inter-generation welfare and the challenges arising from globalization and the international trade policy environment, knowledge of the power and implications of international trade policies is crucial. This research will provide an analytical framework that will better inform policy makers and analysts and contribute to better understanding of Australia's options and role in the international trade policy arena. The result will be better trade policy choices.Read moreRead less