Rationalising the Interaction ofTax and Social Security: PartI: Specific Problem Areas.

This paper considers options for addressing problems in the way the tax and social security systems interact.TAX POLICY ; SOCIAL SECURITY

Rationalising the Interaction of Tax and social Security: Part II: Fundamental Reform Options.

This paper considers more major structural reforms which could address such problems in a systematic manner, and allow the implementation of a designed set of effective tax rates (ETRs) for social security clients and taxpayers.TAX POLICY ; SOCIAL SECURITY

Interaction of the age pension means test and the taxation of superannuation

The Australian social security system is probably the closest in the world to a negative income tax (NIT) or guaranteed minimum income (GMI). However, there is a difficulty in reconciling a pure NIT solution directing assistance to the most needy with the desire to encourage retirement savings generally and enhance living standards of the retired. The economic cost of means testing can be reduced by making the means test more gradual. The further step of means test abolition may be attractive in conjunction with certain proposals for the heavier taxation of superannuation but may not otherwise be warranted. The means test could be further rationalised by abandoning the separate assets test and returning to something more like the "merged means test" that prevailed in Australia up until the mid-1970s, modified to reflect current costs of annuitie

The interpretation of magnetic anomalies between Iceland and Scotland

The collection of data, and the results of a detailed magnetic survey on the crest of the Iceland-Faeroes Rise are described, A matrix method is developed to transform gravity anomalies to magnetic anomalies, and vice versa, to determine the ratio of magnetism to density in an equivalent layer, to solve for the angle of magnetisation of a body causing a magnetic anomaly and to separate magnetic anomalies caused by different types of source body. The data from the detailed survey area are interpreted as supporting the conclusions of previous authors that the crustal structure of the Iceland-Faeroes Rise is highly anomalous for an oceanic setting, and 16 similar to that of Iceland, with at least two magnetic layers which contain central intrusive complexes; granitic rocks may also be present. The matrix methods developed in the first part of this work are used to interpret gravity and magnetic data from a previous Durham survey on the Iceland-Faeroes Rise. Results indicate that the magnetic anomalies are controlled by seismic structure on NE - SW profiles, but include a component which is independent of seismic structure which is of greater significance on NW - SE profiles. The latter component is identified as magnetisation changes as a function of time. Magnetic and gravity anomalies from the Scottish Continental Shelf region are used to demonstrate further the scope of the matrix methods for combined analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies

Superannuation tax concessions and the age pension: a principled approach to savings taxation

This paper discusses the tax and transfer treatment of private superannuation retirement saving and the public means tested age pension in Australia. Superannuation savings benefit from concessional treatment in Australia's tax system by comparison with other forms of saving, measured against an income or consumption tax benchmark. In the drawdown phase, the age pension means test offsets this generous treatment for those in the middle but not at the top end of the distribution. However, it does so in a way that generates disincentives for work in retirement and, perversely, for saving, before and during retirement. We canvass a range of principled approaches that would provide support for saving across the life course while being more neutral and fair in both savings and drawdown phases. We conclude that a more coherent retirement tax and transfer system can be achieved by reducing tax concessions and making the age pension means test less harsh. In the long term, the tax and transfer treatment of retirement savings should be aligned with the treatment of savings in general.This report was commisioned by Australian National Universit

A basic income for Australia? Exploring rationale, design, distribution and cost

This paper considers the potential for a basic income (BI) or guaranteed minimum income (GMI) scheme for Australia. We examine the proposal for a GMI advocated by the Henderson Poverty Inquiry in 1975. We briefly discusses the rationale for a BI and then focus on work incentive effects, design and financing of a BI in the Australian context. The paper describes and models four options that would move the current Australian system towards a partial or categorical BI, with an innovative approach of financing the BI by a wealth tax to keep the tax rate on earned income relatively low. Such a BI could help ease the effective marginal tax rates that affect families and welfare recipients, and would provide extra support to those with low or fluctuating incomes. For each option, the paper explores the required tax rate and the distributional outcomes for different family types and incomes

Bronchiectasis-COPD Overlap Syndrome: Role of Peripheral Eosinophil Count and Inhaled Corticosteroid Treatment

Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis are highly prevalent diseases. In both cases, inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) are associated with a decrease in exacerbations in patients with a high peripheral blood eosinophil count (BEC), but it is still not known what occurs in bronchiectasis-COPD overlap syndrome (BCOS). The present study aimed to assess the effect of ICs on various outcomes in patients with BCOS, according to BEC values. We undertook a post-hoc analysis of a cohort of 201 GOLD II-IV COPD patients with a long-term follow-up (median 74 [IQR: 40-106] months). All participants underwent computerized tomography and 115 (57.2%) had confirmed BCOS. A standardized clinical protocol was followed and two sputum samples were collected at each medical visit (every 3-6 months), whenever possible. During follow-up, there were 68 deaths (59.1%), and the mean rate of exacerbations and hospitalizations per year was 1.42 (1.2) and 0.57 (0.83), respectively. A total of 44.3% of the patients presented at least one pneumonic episode per year. The mean value of eosinophils was 402 (112) eosinophils/mu L, with 27 (23.5%), 63 (54.8%), and 25 patients (21.7%) presenting, respectively, less than 100, 101-300, and more than 300 eosinophils/mu L. A total of 84 patients (73.1%) took ICs. The higher the BEC, the higher the annual rate of exacerbations and hospitalizations. Patients with less than 100 eosinophils/mu L presented more infectious events (incident exacerbations, pneumonic episodes, and chronic bronchial infection via pathogenic bacteria). Only those patients with eosinophilia (>300 eosinophils/mu L) treated with ICs decreased the number (1.77 (1.2) vs. 1.08 (0.6), p < 0.001) and the severity (0.67 (0.8) vs. 0.35 (0.5), p = 0.011) of exacerbations, without any changes in the other infectious outcomes or mortality. In conclusion, ICs treatment in patients with BCOS with increased BEC decreased the number and severity of incident exacerbations without any negative influence on other infectious outcomes (incidence of pneumonia or chronic bronchial infection)