Identifying the Characteristics of a Good Tax System in the 21st Century: The Mirrlees Review

Abstract

Significant changes in the international economic and political environment are forcing countries everywhere to review the design of their tax system and the impact of taxes on national economic performance. The Mirrlees Review which brings together more than 50 leading experts in tax and public economics from around the world is due to be published in December 2008. This seminar will discuss the motivation for the Mirrlees Review the major changes in the economy society and politics that are forcing governments to think seriously again about tax design and the current work of the Mirrlees Review on corporate and international income tax. The increasing mobility of capital across national borders is making the taxation of capital income increasingly difficult at the level of the firm and the individual.