Taxation of Digital Business Transactions: Challenges and Prospects for Developing Economies

The Global economy has seen a rapid growth in digital business transactions, especially in the provision and sale of goods and services through the application of information and communications technology. This rapid growth can be attributed to the fast rate of technological advancement which has changed how business transactions are conducted globally. The complexity associated with the taxation of digital business transaction has created the need to take a critical look at the challenges and prospects of digital business transactions in developing economies. The absence of physically commercial environment to a digital business environment generates thoughtful and significant issues in relation to taxation and taxation systems. This study relied on the second-best Tax Theory to establish that developing economies face the daunting task of taxing digital business transactions effectively due to the distortive nature of taxes on welfare losses. Whereas government and revenue collection authorities can impose tax on individuals, institutions and or products, they cannot tax digital business transactions efficiently and effectively and unless there are robust and effective tax systems in place. Even though these constraints appear more pronounced in developing economies, the implementation of effective tax could lead to an enhanced internal tax revenue for development

Discussion of Benefits and Challenges in Implementing Securities Transaction Taxes

This paper examines the views of financial market practitioners and academic researchers on whether or not to impose taxes on security transactions (STTs). The debate on whether to impose such taxes has recently been revived due to the urgent need for all governments both developed and developing to find new sources of income in the face of the unprecedented ongoing financial constraints they face. The paper uses the two main schools of taught one which is favour of STTs and the other which is opposed to such taxes. Those in favour of STTs argue with empirical evidence that such taxes have and could continue to raise substantial tax revenue to the tune of around $10 billion per annum in the US to augment existing tax revenues. They also argue that STTs are necessary weapons in any financial market to curtail the activities of speculators and ‘noise traders’ whose trading activities cause security prices to move away from their intrinsic values by diluting the quality of information revealed by market prices Those who oppose the imposition of STTs also argue that the cost of administering and implementing such taxes could far outweigh the revenue it could raise. They argue that imposing such taxes has the potential to increase the cost of capital for trading, reduce market efficiency and liquidity which could lead to reduction in security prices. They also argue that imposing STTs could affect the prices of various classes of securities differently which could ultimately affect the structure and volume of investment portfolios. The opponents also contend that imposing STTs could move security trading from countries where such taxes are in existence to countries where they non existing using the case of Sweden where in 1984 a 1% security transaction tax led to over 50% movement of trading volume to the London security market Comparing the two views, the authors conclude using the case of bail out strategies adopted by the US and the austerity measures being adopted by some European countries that imposing taxes on security transactions could be counter-productive which could ultimately affect growth that is so critically important to move countries out of recession. By adopting the bail-out strategy, the US is officially out of recession judging by the figures for the third quarter of 2013 released by the US Government, while their European counterparts which adopted the austerity measures are still grappling high unemployment rates and unmet growth targets. In line with the authors’ view, many countries notably India have either reduced their STTs rates or eliminated completely.  Where STTs are still being administered or intended to be administered, the authors’ recommend that for STTs to aid in growth targets, the tax rates should not be more than 0.5% based on empirical evidence otherwise it could lead to higher cost of trading which could affect trading volumes and ultimately reduce tax revenue for which the STTs are supposed to avoid Additionally, developing economies such as Ghana, might have to consider factors such as the size of the security market, the tax rate applicable, capacity of existing tax collection agencies, the capacity of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other related regulatory agencies if such taxes can work. Key words: Securities Transaction Tax, derivatives, stock markets, tax benefits, challenges.  

Microbiological quality and metal levels in wells and boreholes water in some peri-urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana

Many communities in Kumasi, Ghana, are increasingly dependent on boreholes and hand dug wells. The aim of this study was to examine the drinking water suitability of 6 wells and 3 boreholes in periurban communities in Kumasi, between December 2003 and January 2005. Total coliforms, faecal coliforms and enterococci were enumerated using the standard most probable number method and membrane filtration methods. The heavy metals in the water samples were determined using the atomic absorption spectrometry method. Overall, significantly higher bacterial counts were recorded during the wet (rainy) season compared to the dry (harmattan) season. Faecal coliforms counts (FCC) in 3 borehole samples ranged between 3 x 101 and 3.5 x 107 per 100 ml (geometric means 1.82, 1.75 and 2.8 x 104) while mean numbers of enterococci were 103-105 times lower. The range and geometric means of FCC was similar in samples from wells but levels of enterococci were 8 times higher than in boreholes. Manganese and iron levels were well within the WHO standards for all 9 sites but lead levels except for one site (Boadi) were all higher than the WHO standard. A brief sanitation survey at each site suggested that wells and boreholes were frequently cited near latrines, refuse tips and other social amenities, and in the vicinity of domestic or grazing animals. In Kumasi, the water from shallow wells and boreholes, upon which the local communities depend is of poor quality. The data are being used to advise the local government. An integrated approach is required to minimise faecal pollution of wells and boreholes within peri-urban communities.Key words: Boreholes, enterococci, faecal coliforms, peri-urban communities, total coliforms, wells

Tax Morale and its Drivers: Empirical Evidence from Ghana

Using the binary logistic regression model, this study analyzes the statistical relationships between tax morale and its drivers as developed by the World Values Survey (WVS) on 1,552 respondents in Ghana between 2010 and 2014. The findings show that age has a significant positive relationship with tax morale, whereas participation in national-level elections also has a significant positive relationship with tax morale. Secondary education and above have a positive relationship with tax morale, but the relationship is negative below secondary education. One's employment status has a positive but insignificant relationship with tax morale, but income factors have a negative relationship. Confidence in government and parliament has a positive but insignificant relationship with tax morale. Finally, preference for the redistribution of wealth has a significant positive relationship with tax morale, while trust in others has an insignificant positive relationship with tax morale. The study provides country-specific drivers of tax morale (with expanded variables) and their relationships with tax morale in direct response to a suggestion by Daude, Gutiérrez, & Melguizo in their study in 2012 and as an improvement upon a similar study conducted in Ghana by Ibrahim, Musah, & Abdul-Hanan in 2015

Ten-year Trends in Physical Dating Victimization among Adolescent Boys and Girls in British Columbia, Canada

Physical dating violence (PDV) victimization among adolescents is a serious global problem. Although knowledge of trends in PDV victimization can help guide programming and health policies, little research has examined whether the prevalence of PDV victimization has increased, decreased, or remained stable over time among non-U.S.-based samples of youth. In addition, few studies have directly tested whether disparities in PDV victimization between boys and girls have narrowed, widened, or remained unchanged in recent years. To address these gaps, we used school-based data from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Surveys (BC AHS) of 2003, 2008, and 2013 (n boys = 18,441 and n girls = 17,459) to examine 10-year trends in PDV victimization. We also tested whether trends differed across self-reported sex. Data from the 2003 to 2013 BC AHS revealed that recent PDV victimization rates had significantly decreased among youth overall (5.9% to 5.0%) and boys (8.0% to 5.8%), but not girls (5.3% to 4.2%). Although boys had steeper declines than girls in PDV victimization rates, year-by-sex interactions indicate that the sex gap in PDV victimization had not significantly narrowed. Moreover, rates of PDV victimization over the 10-year period indicated significantly higher rates of PDV victimization among boys compared to girls. Despite positive declines in recent rates of PDV victimization among youth, important differences in rates of PDV victimization between boys and girls remain. These findings underscore the need for greater attention to sex differences in research and programming and health policies to reduce PDV victimization and the sex disparities therein

Infection with Mansonella perstans Nematodes in Buruli Ulcer Patients, Ghana.

During August 2010-December 2012, we conducted a study of patients in Ghana who had Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, and found that 23% were co-infected with Mansonella perstans nematodes; 13% of controls also had M. perstans infection. M. perstans co-infection should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of Buruli ulcer

Novel Human Parvovirus 4 Genotype 3 in Infants, Ghana

Human parvovirus 4 has been considered to be transmitted only parenterally. However, after novel genotype 3 of parvovirus 4 was found in 2 patients with no parenteral risks, we tested infants in Ghana. A viremia rate of 8.6% over 2 years indicates that this infection is common in children in Africa

Intermittent Screening and Treatment versus Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy: Provider Knowledge and Acceptability

Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is associated with increased risks of maternal and foetal complications. The WHO recommends a package of interventions including intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), insecticide-treated nets and effective case management. However, with increasing SP resistance, the effectiveness of SP-IPT has been questioned. Intermittent screening and treatment (IST) has recently been shown in Ghana to be as efficacious as SP-IPT. This study investigates two important requirements for effective delivery of IST and SP-IPT: antenatal care (ANC) provider knowledge, and acceptance of the different strategies. Structured interviews with 134 ANC providers at 67 public health facilities in Ashanti Region, Ghana collected information on knowledge of the risks and preventative and curative interventions against MiP. Composite indicators of knowledge of SP-IPT, and case management of MiP were developed. Log binomial regression of predictors of provider knowledge was explored. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with fourteen ANC providers with some knowledge of IST to gain an indication of the factors influencing acceptance of the IST approach. 88.1% of providers knew all elements of the SP-IPT policy, compared to 20.1% and 41.8% who knew the treatment policy for malaria in the first or second/third trimesters, respectively. Workshop attendance was a univariate predictor of each knowledge indicator. Qualitative findings suggest preference for prevention over cure, and increased workload may be barriers to IST implementation. However, a change in strategy in the face of SP resistance is likely to be supported; health of pregnant women is a strong motivation for ANC provider practice. If IST was to be introduced as part of routine ANC activities, attention would need to be given to improving the knowledge and practices of ANC staff in relation to appropriate treatment of MiP. Health worker support for any MiP intervention delivered through ANC clinics is critical

Clinical and microbiological predictors of healing in Buruli ulcer disease.

INTRODUCTION: Wound measurements are relevant in monitoring the rate of healing (RoH) and may predict time to healing. Predicting the time to healing can help improve the management of Buruli ulcer. We examine three methods for the determination of RoH and their use as predictors of time to healing. METHODS: Lesion measurements of Buruli ulcer patients treated from 2007 to 2022 were obtained with acetate sheet tracings (2D) or Aranz software (3D) fortnightly. RoH was determined using the absolute area, percentage area reduction and linear methods at 4 weeks post onset of antibiotic treatment. Predicted time to healing was compared to the actual healing time. Baseline characteristics were assessed for associations with healing. RESULTS: All three methods for calculating the RoH significantly distinguished between fast and slow healers (p < 0.0001). The predicted healing time using the linear method was comparable to the actual healing time for fast healers (p = 0.34). The RoH was influenced by the form of lesion, with plaques [OR 2.19 5 %CI (1.2-3.6), p = 0.009], and oedemas [OR 8.5; 95 %CI (1.9--36.9), p = 0.004] being associated with delayed healing. The proportion of patients with paradoxical reactions 16 % vs 3 %, p < 0.0001), higher baseline bacterial load (75/104;72 % vs 21/47;45 %, p = 0.001) and delayed clearance of viable organisms (71/104;68 % vs 9/47;19 %, p < 0.0001) was higher in the slow healers than the fast healers. CONCLUSION: Predicted healing rates were comparatively lower for slow healers than fast healers. Baseline characteristics associated with healing can be explored for an improved disease management plan to reduce patient and caregiver anxiety

The oral microbiome and breast cancer and nonmalignant breast disease, and its relationship with the fecal microbiome in the Ghana Breast Health Study

The oral microbiome, like the fecal microbiome, may be related to breast cancer risk. Therefore, we investigated whether the oral microbiome was associated with breast cancer and nonmalignant breast disease, and its relationship with the fecal microbiome in a case-control study in Ghana. A total of 881 women were included (369 breast cancers, 93 nonmalignant cases and 419 population-based controls). The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from oral and fecal samples. Alpha-diversity (observed amplicon sequence variants [ASVs], Shannon index and Faiths Phylogenetic Diversity) and beta-diversity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard and weighted and unweighted UniFrac) metrics were computed. MiRKAT and logistic regression models were used to investigate the case-control associations. Oral sample alpha-diversity was inversely associated with breast cancer and nonmalignant breast disease with odds ratios (95% CIs) per every 10 observed ASVs of 0.86 (0.83-0.89) and 0.79 (0.73-0.85), respectively, compared to controls. Beta-diversity was also associated with breast cancer and nonmalignant breast disease compared to controls (P ≤ .001). The relative abundances of Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium were lower for breast cancer cases compared to controls. Alpha-diversity and presence/relative abundance of specific genera from the oral and fecal microbiome were strongly correlated among breast cancer cases, but weakly correlated among controls. Particularly, the relative abundance of oral Porphyromonas was strongly, inversely correlated with fecal Bacteroides among breast cancer cases (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;-.37, P ≤ .001). Many oral microbial metrics were strongly associated with breast cancer and nonmalignant breast disease, and strongly correlated with fecal microbiome among breast cancer cases, but not controls