Property Taxation of Multifamily Housing: An Empirical Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Equity and Assessment Methods

This study used the hedonic price technique to focus on a housing characteristic that has been studied infrequently: whether a home is site-built or manufactured. Two hedonic price regression models were used to determine the predictive power of construction type on home price. The ?rst, which controlled for factors found to relate to home prices in previous research, showed a signi?cant difference between the prices of the two types of homes. The second, which also included other variables through a stepwise regression, found that the type of construction had more predictive power than any other explanatory variable in the model.

State tax revenue growth and volatility

Macroeconomic conditions and tax structures jointly determine the growth and volatility of state tax revenues. Since a variety of economic conditions exist among states, government policymakers should carefully anticipate and consider the possible impacts of proposed tax reform and revenue enhancements on the long-term growth and volatility of their unique tax revenue portfolios. In the short run, states generally cannot alter the volatility and growth rates of their economies. They can, however, change the composition of their tax portfolios to minimize the effects of the business cycle on their fiscal health. For this reason, state officials need to consider the natural tendencies of their economies when formulating tax policy. For example, states with volatile economies might want tax portfolios that minimize the impact of national macroeconomic trends; those with stable economies might consider adopting more aggressive tax portfolios that optimize their tax revenue growth/volatility combinations.Taxation ; State finance ; Revenue

Moral Hazard in Property Tax Administration: A Comparative Analysis of the Czech and Slovak Republics

Fiscal decentralisation in the Czech and Slovak Republics has only begun to establish local autonomy. In Slovakia, unusual politics have resulted in sparse revenue transfers but somewhat greater fiscal independence for municipalities through the property tax. The Czech Republic, more generous to its municipalities, has not let local governments develop autonomously. The property tax, the best vehicle for generating independent funds, remains largely symbolic, as under central planning. The tax's moral hazard problems become apparent in comparing Czech and Slovak local budgets. As a result of greater fiscal need, Slovak municipalities have demonstrated what can be achieved through greater property tax collection effort. Comparative Economic Studies (2003) 45, 44–62. doi:10.1057/palgrave.ces. 8100003

Slovakia's Surge: The New System's Impact on Fiscal Decentralisation

Slovakia's transition history long paralleled that of the Czech Republic, but the former adopted bold new reforms early in this decade. This article is a comparative treatment of fiscal decentralisation since 1993 and more recent reforms of public administration, the two efforts representing the foundation of the New System. Czech experience is invoked simply to provide an appropriate benchmark for the evaluation of Slovakia's New System introduced in 2004, including the 19% ‘flat tax’ and other striking measures in local public finance.The second focus of the article is on the macroeconomic impact of the New System. It is too early to perceive what its long-term effects will be, so this treatment is more tentative. But because one would like to know whether Slovakia's return to an economic growth path is actually a result of the New System and whether this recent growth will persist, these issues are given some consideration.

Fiscal decentralization in the Czech and Slovak Republics: a comparative study of moral hazard

Fiscal decentralization has provided neither the benefits of decentralization nor an independent revenue source for subnational governments in the Czech and Slovak Republics. In Slovakia political conditions early in the transition led to the relative neglect of revenue transfers from the center. This produced financial stress but also encouraged greater fiscal independence for local governments. It also forced them to seek maximal property tax revenues. The Czech Republic made more substantial transfers to local governments, but the development of fiscal autonomy was stifled as transfers reduced the need for own-source local revenues. The Czech real estate tax has remained nominal, as it was under central planning, and its administration is fraught with moral hazard problems. Thus, the property tax never became a vehicle for generating independent funds, but the prospects for the tax are much brighter in the Slovak Republic. This paper offers several views on why the property tax has been more successful in the Slovak Republic.

Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations in the Czech Republic

A survey of Czech local officials probes perceptions of intergovernmental relations. Perceived autonomy and municipality size are tested as autonomy indicators. The impact of city size on municipal expenditures from different funding sources is evaluated. Cross-tabulations of city size identify revenue sources for various expenditures and activities. For all expenditures, use of funds is more effectively explained by city size than by the fiscal choices of high- and low-autonomy groups. A graphic analysis of relationships between expenditures and revenue sources complements the statistical analysis. Radar charts reveal revenue sources for small versus large and low- versus high-autonomy cities.

The Effect of Local Option Sales Taxes on Local Sales

Because retail sales taxes generate substantial revenue for many local governments, public officials contemplating differential local option tax rates must carefully assess the potential impacts of such decisions on purchasing decisions. The authors use a unique pooled time series to examine these impacts and apply a methodology that permits an analysis of the effects on purchasing decisions of sales tax rate differences across numerous consumer goods. The results indicate that the response to sales tax rate differences depends on the general characteristics of the goods being purchased. A unique variable that controls for the distance to the next significant alternative for making a purchase also provides key insights. The observed significance for this variable and its interaction with tax rates has significant public policy implications.local options sales taxes; retail sales; consumer behavior; restricted maximum likelihood estimation; panel data