The choice of the location of the lunar base

The development of modern methods of remote sensing of the lunar surface and data from lunar studies by space vehicles make it possible to assess scientifically the expediency of the location of the lunar base in a definite region on the Moon. The preliminary choice of the site is important for tackling a range of problems associated with ensuring the activity of a manned lunar base and with fulfilling the research program. Based on astronomical data, we suggest the Moon's western hemisphere, specifically the western part of Oceanus Procellarum, where natural, scientifically interesting objects have been identified, as have surface rocks with enhanced contents of ilmenite, a possible source of oxygen. A comprehensive evaluation of the region shows that, as far as natural features are concerned, it is a key one for solving the main problems of the Moon's origin and evolution

The choice of commodity tax base in the presence of horizontal foreign direct investment

We analyse the choice of commodity tax base, when countries set their taxes non-cooperatively in a reciprocal dumping model of homogeneous goods trade with horizontal foreign direct investment (FDI). We show that the consumption base (destination principle) weakly welfare-dominates the production base (origin principle) for a large range of plant fixed costs. When integration is complete, the destination principle dominates the origin principle for all levels of plant fixed costs below which FDI occurs under the origin principle. This contrasts with much of the existing literature which has tended to support the origin principle under imperfect competition with a fixed market structure

Cash flow or income? : the choice of base for company taxation

Considerable interest has been expressed in recent years by tax theorists as well as practitioners, for the taxation of companies based on their cash flow. Unlike the equity-income tax base, which requires the deductibility of economic depreciation and debt financing costs, the cash-flow base expenses capital at the point of purchase, eliminating the need for the subsequent costing of this capital. This paper raises some of the issues that would arise in trying to implement a company tax either in the form of an indexed equity-income or a cash-flow tax. Issues raised include: (i) administrative complexity; (ii) international tax coordination and competition; and (iii) transition problems. In a closed economy the cash-flow tax seems a simple, efficient form of company taxation, administratively straightforward and neutral with regard to investment decisions. The more complicated equity-income tax is harder to defend in a closed economy.Economic Theory&Research,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism

Heterostructure unipolar spin transistors

We extend the analogy between charge-based bipolar semiconductor electronics and spin-based unipolar electronics by considering unipolar spin transistors with different equilibrium spin splittings in the emitter, base, and collector. The current of base majority spin electrons to the collector limits the performance of ``homojunction'' unipolar spin transistors, in which the emitter, base, and collector all are made from the same magnetic material. This current is very similar in origin to the current of base majority carriers to the emitter in homojunction bipolar junction transistors. The current in bipolar junction transistors can be reduced or nearly eliminated through the use of a wide band gap emitter. We find that the choice of a collector material with a larger equilibrium spin splitting than the base will similarly improve the device performance of a unipolar spin transistor. We also find that a graded variation in the base spin splitting introduces an effective drift field that accelerates minority carriers through the base towards the collector.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Tax Regressivity and the Choice of Tax Base

In 1995, Paul Peterson, a professor of government at Harvard University, concluded that the greatest price of the United States (U.S.) federalist system was inter-jurisdictional inequity, but that the federal government’s role in redistributive policy could potentially minimize this cost. While Peterson’s work focused on the expenditure side of the budget, federal governments also facilitate the redistribution of income through the tax code, but some tax bases tend to be inherently more progressive than others.   Given the range of tax bases available to policy makers,  the  role  of  a  tax  base  in  income  distribution  is  fundamental  to  evaluating  the distributional effects of different tax structures.  Using the regressivity of state and local tax systems in the U.S., this study finds that consumption taxes may impose significant equity costs when designed as sales taxes.  More specifically, for each one percent increase in sales tax revenue as a share of the tax base, the system becomes 12 to 17 percent more regressive.  For each one percent increase in income tax revenue as a percent of the revenue base, the system becomes 12 to 13 percent less regressive- despite the fact that United States’ state governments tend to have either flat or only moderately graduated income tax rates.  While this study finds that the choice of tax base can only explain about half the variation in regressivity rates, it does high light the difficulty in designing a consumption tax that achieves redistributive policy goals