Public economy and taxation

Two lines of research are contemplated under this section: on the one hand Taxation and on the other, the Public Economy and Well-being.

Funcas’studies on Taxation are aimed at rigorous analysis and its impact on the economic environment in general, paying special attention to the Spanish tax reality. To achieve this, the unit develops and enhances the study, both theoretical and applied, of tax issues and their impact on economic reality. In this sense, it is a platform from where quick answers to the questions that are usually asked in the study of tax reforms, present or future – tax impact, distributive effects, efficiency costs, social welfare – are offered, with agility and rigor. On the other hand, it also offers comparative analyzes of the Spanish economic reality with respect tosurrounding countries in order to identify weaknesses, inefficiencies and proposals for improvement.

The research on Public Expenditure, Economic Regulation and Well-being aims to promote and develop the analysis of public sector intervention in market economies, with special attention to the set of actions that make up the social welfare system, taking as a main reference the Spanish and European reality. The work program therefore includes aspects related to the regulation of markets, the finances of public administrations and, in particular, the examination of the objectives and instruments of social policy, their consequences on economic growth and social cohesion, and the relations between the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Highlighted

A raíz del nuevo entorno geopolítico y del viraje internacional de la administración de EE. UU., Europa se ve abocada a un incremento del gasto en defensa que, posiblemente, no podrá ser abordado en toda su magnitud de forma inmediata. En primer lugar, la limitada capacidad de producción de la industria europea no puede dar respuesta de momento, por sí sola, a las elevadas cuantías de gasto que se prevén ejecutar. Otro aspecto que es conveniente enmendar es su actual fragmentación y la reducida dimensión de las empresas, lo que impide economías de escala e implica ineficiencia y altos costes de producción. Finalmente, hay que resolver el rompecabezas de su financiación, anticipando el mix de fórmulas (deuda, impuestos, reasignación del gasto…), lo que plantea dilemas desde una perspectiva social. Lo explica Raymond Torres, de Funcas.