Integrating Income Tax and National Insurance: an interim report

Income Tax and National Insurance are now sufficiently similar that merging them appears to be a plausible option, yet still sufficiently different that integration raises significant difficulties. This paper surveys the potential benefits of integration - increased transparency and reduced administrative and compliance costs - and the potential obstacles, assessing the extent to which each of the differences between Income Tax and NICs - in particular the contributory principle, the levying of an employer charge and the differences in tax base - constitute serious barriers to integration. The paper concludes that few of the difficulties look individually prohibitive, but that trying too hard to avoid significant reform of the current policy framework could produce a merged tax so complicated as to nullify much or all of the benefits of integration.Taxation, social insurance, administration

Empirical validations of the DOE-2.1E building simulation software for daylighting and economizer controls

The purpose of this research was to empirically validate the daylighting and economizer facets of the DOE-2.1E building simulation software with an actual building. The test facility where these validations exercises were performed was the Iowa Energy Center\u27s Energy Resource Station (ERS). Weather information measured at the site was used to build weather files in a TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) format. Input files containing specific information about the structure, system and equipment, and control strategies of the building were used in conjunction with the building simulation software. Coupled with the site weather information, predictions were made for system and zone performances. These predictions were then compared to the empirical data that were taken at the ERS. The predictions for the controls strategies were integrated within a whole building analysis to quantify the impact and interactions within the zones and system. Both validation efforts were performed using a variable-air-volume system with terminal hydronic reheat (VAVRH). For the daylight tests, a diffuse window treatment was used. DOE-2.1E prediction for the lighting power to the test rooms closely matched the light power. Illuminance predictions at the reference point were generally very close to measured values, except when relatively high magnitudes of ambient light entered the space. With the exception of the zone reheat predictions, zone and system predictions closely matched the empirical quantities. Problems with room stratification in one of the tests lead to discrepancies in the reheat power required for the space. The system temperatures, cooling heat transfer rates, and supply temperature were comparable to the empirical parameters. Comparisons for the economizer control were only made for the system. In general, the predictions for parameters like outside airflow rate, supply airflow rate, cooling heat transfer rates, and system temperatures were comparable to the empirical parameters

Series of experiments for empirical validation of solar gain modelling in building energy simulation codes - experimental setup, test cell characterization, specifications and uncertainty analysis

Empirical validation of building energy simulation codes is an important component in understanding the capacity and limitations of the software. Within the framework of Task 34/Annex 43 of the International Energy Agency (IEA), a series of experiments was performed in an outdoor test cell. The objective of these experiments was to provide a high-quality data set for code developers and modelers to validate their solar gain models for windows with and without shading devices. A description of the necessary specifications for modeling these experiments is provided in this paper, which includes information about the test site location, experimental setup, geometrical and thermophysical cell properties including estimated uncertainties. Computed overall thermal cell properties were confirmed by conducting a steady-state experiment without solar gains. A transient experiment, also without solar gains, and corresponding simulations from four different building energy simulation codes showed that the provided specifications result in accurate thermal cell modeling. A good foundation for the following experiments with solar gains was therefore accomplished

Tax policy in the UK post-Brexit

Tax matters figured prominently in the Brexit debate. Current signs are, however, that the UK government is not planning the creation of a post-Brexit ‘Singapore on Thames’ as some had predicted. In fact, we are seeing increases to the main corporation tax rate in response to broader international tax developments and the fiscal upheaval caused by the pandemic. Prior to Brexit, the UK already enjoyed considerable freedom in respect of direct taxes including income tax and corporation tax, but less so for VAT; it has more freedom to change the VAT now, if desired, and has already introduced some relatively small amendments to reflect the new state of play. At this point, the government has exercised its new-found freedoms on tax in quite limited ways—most notably in creating freeports which will benefit from special advantageous customs and tax rules, refocusing R&D tax relief towards activity conducted in the UK, making relatively minor changes to tonnage tax, alcohol duties, and air passenger duty, and removing some narrow EU-focused corporation tax measures. However, these new-found tax freedoms come with new-found restrictions, costs, and challenges for both taxpayers and the UK government. There are significant changes on the tax administration front, which generally complicates matters for HMRC as it will have to rely on less extensive and less convenient treaty and OECD avenues of cooperation. On VAT, teething issues as well as longer-term complications have arisen post-Brexit for businesses and consumers. Provisions remain to control the extent of fiscal state aid, albeit in a less restrictive way under the new subsidy control mechanism in the UK/EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement. The strong overall message is that financial and international pressures and constraints are more important to the direction of tax policy than the fact that the UK has left the EU

Liquidity issues: solutions for the asset rich, cash poor

Liquidity concerns are oft raised when considering wealth taxes, yet the issue has received scant attention in the extant literature. In this paper we provide the first comprehensive review of the liquidity problem. Our aims are to estimate the scale of the problem, to explore the extent to which archetypal examples are at risk of experiencing low liquidity, and to review the policy options to reduce the scale and impact of liquidity challenges. Using data from Round 6 of the Wealth and Assets Survey, we demonstrate that the scale of the problem depends largely on conceptual and design issues. We find that farmers and business owners are commonly over-represented in the low-liquidity group, but there is little evidence to support the typical narrative surrounding single pensioners. Finally, we conclude our review with a number of preferred solutions to address liquidity issues, including recognising that a net wealth tax can be paid out of income or by sale of assets, by withholding tax (e.g. by pension providers), by borrowing/financing, deferred payment arrangements and, possibly in limited circumstances, payment in specie

Empirical validation of models to compute solar irradiance on inclined surfaces for building energy simulation

Accurately computing solar irradiance on external facades is a prerequisite for reliably predicting thermal behavior and cooling loads of buildings. Validation of radiation models and algorithms implemented in building energy simulation codes is an essential endeavor for evaluating solar gain models. Seven solar radiation models implemented in four building energy simulation codes were investigated: (1) isotropic sky, (2) Klucher, (3) Hay-Davies, (4) Reindl, (5) Muneer, (6) 1987 Perez, and (7) 1990 Perez models. The building energy simulation codes included: EnergyPlus, DOE-2.1E, TRNSYS-TUD, and ESP-r. Solar radiation data from two 25 days periods in October and March/April, which included diverse atmospheric conditions and solar altitudes, measured on the EMPA campus in a suburban area in Duebendorf, Switzerland, were used for validation purposes. Two of the three measured components of solar irradiances - global horizontal, diffuse horizontal and direct-normal - were used as inputs for calculating global irradiance on a south-west façade. Numerous statistical parameters were employed to analyze hourly measured and predicted global vertical irradiances. Mean absolute differences for both periods were found to be: (1) 13.7% and 14.9% for the isotropic sky model, (2) 9.1% for the Hay-Davies model, (3) 9.4% for the Reindl model, (4) 7.6% for the Muneer model, (5) 13.2% for the Klucher model, (6) 9.0%, 7.7%, 6.6%, and 7.1% for the 1990 Perez models, and (7) 7.9% for the 1987 Perez model. Detailed sensitivity analyses using Monte Carlo and fitted effects for N-way factorial analyses were applied to assess how uncertainties in input parameters propagated through one of the building energy simulation codes and impacted the output parameter. The implications of deviations in computed solar irradiances on predicted thermal behavior and cooling load of buildings are discussed

The trajectory of maternal and paternal fatigue and factors associated with fatigue across the transition to parenthood

BackgroundFatigue is prevalent in new parents and is associated with poorer functional performance and cognitive functioning. This can be particularly detrimental during the transition to parenthood when parents are adapting to new roles and demands. Examining the course of fatigue and related factors can provide important avenues for intervention and prevention.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, we assessed fatigue and its correlates in 108 mother/father couples. Multilevel modelling examined the prevalence and trajectory of fatigue across the transition to parenthood, as well as factors associated with post‐partum fatigue. Parents completed measures of fatigue, prenatal stress, depression and health, and post‐natal parental sleep quality, infant sleep duration, and infant negativity.ResultsMothers' and fathers' fatigue increased following the birth of their infant and remained at high levels. Poor sleep quality, stress, and depression were associated with maternal and paternal fatigue, while infant characteristics were more strongly associated with maternal fatigue. Prenatal depressive symptoms, parental sleep quality, infant sleep duration, and the interaction of gender by prenatal fatigue predicted post‐natal fatigue in our model.ConclusionOur results highlight the need for health professionals to educate new parents about fatigue and its management beyond the prenatal period. As correlates of fatigue for mothers and fathers differ, we need to expand our understanding of paternal fatigue and develop interventions tailored to their unique experiences.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110817/1/cp12048.pd