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JT00107006 ABSTRACT/RÉSUMÉThis paper analyses the possibilities for reforming the Icelandic tax system. It puts the current tax structure in its historic context, showing that there has been a steady movement towards simplification. The personal income tax has a lower than average number of bands and, taxes capital income at an unusually low rate. Such a structure favours saving, especially since consumption taxes are particularly high. Nonetheless, there are a number of additional taxes on capital income that serve to raise the overall tax on assets, notably the tax on net wealth. The paper concludes that, if the current budget surplus persists over the medium-term, priority should be given to further reducing corporate taxes and the net wealth tax. At the same time, a number of discriminatory indirect taxes should be replaced by a uniform tax, and the diesel tax reformed. Consideration should also be given to the gradual introduction of a resource tax or to auctioning fishing quotas to help fund the other tax reductions. JEL classification: H2

The recent period of sustained high growth in the United States has drawn attention to its financial system and the efficiency with which it seems to be able to channel funds to new productive investment projects, particularly in hi-tech industries. This study examines the role played by the financial systems in OECD countries and how they affect resource allocation and growth. It provides evidence suggesting that legal and regulatory framework conditions for financial systems, and particularly their enforcement and transparency, support innovation and investment in new enterprises. In addition, using dynamic panel regression techniques, the study finds significant relationships between investment and financial development, as measured by indicators of the scale of financial activity. Evidence is also found of significant relationships between financial development and growth — over and above the links via investment — indicating impacts via overall economic efficiency ... La forte croissance soutenue aux États-Unis pendant la période récente a attiré l’attention sur son système financier et l’efficacité avec laquelle il semble être capable de financer des nouveaux projets d’investissement productif, en particulier dans les industries de haute technologie. Cette étude examine le rôle joué par les systèmes financiers dans les pays de l’OCDE et comment ils influent sur l’allocation des ressources et la croissance. Elle prouve à l’évidence que les systèmes financiers réunissant les conditions d’un cadre institutionnel et réglementaire, en particulier dans l’exécution et la transparence, contribuent à l’innovation et l’investissement dans de nouvelles entreprises. De plus, en utilisant des techniques de régression dynamique en panel, l’étude constate des relations significatives entre l’investissement et le développement financier, qui servent d’indicateurs de l’échelle de l’activité financière. Il parait tout aussi évident qu’il y a une relation entre ...financial systems, transparency, innovation, shareholders, creditors, growth, investment, development, enforcement, panel analysis, actionnaires, recouvrement, transparence, analyse par panel, innovation, créanciers, croissance, système financier, développement, investissement