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Finances of the Nation: Taxing Consumption in Canada: Rates, Revenues, and Redistribution

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Bird

    (Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto)

  • Michael Smart

    (Department of Economics, University of Toronto)

Abstract

This article examines the role of sales and excise taxes in government revenues and in the Canadian economy. In particular, it explores the distributional effects of consumption taxes among Canadian households, to determine whether and to what extent the tax burden is borne disproportionately by low-income households rather than high-income households. The authors present data on statutory sales tax rates and track the share of sales and excise taxes in Canada's gross domestic product and government revenues over the past 34 years (1981-2014). They then analyze cross-sectional data on consumption patterns and tax payments of Canadian households, and conclude that the presumed regressivity of sales taxes--particularly general sales taxes like the goods and services tax--is far from clear.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Bird & Michael Smart, 2016. "Finances of the Nation: Taxing Consumption in Canada: Rates, Revenues, and Redistribution," Canadian Tax Journal, Canadian Tax Foundation, vol. 64(2), pages 417-442.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctf:journl:v:64:y:2016:i:2:p:417-442
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mukherjee, Sacchidananda, 2023. "Distributional Impact of Indian GST," Working Papers 23/403, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
    2. Kaplanoglou, Georgia, 2022. "Consumption inequality and poverty in Greece: Evidence and lessons from a decade-long crisis," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 244-261.
    3. Bev Dahlby & Kevin Milligan, 2017. "From theory to practice: Canadian economists contributions to public finance," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1324-1347, December.
    4. Neba Bhalla & Inderjit Kaur & Rakesh Kumar Sharma, 2022. "Examining the Effect of Tax Reform Determinants, Firms’ Characteristics and Demographic Factors on the Financial Performance of Small and Micro Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Alastair Thomas, 2022. "Reassessing the regressivity of the VAT," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(1), pages 23-38, March.

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