A great challenge for democracy is to account for the conflict between the ideal of self-governance and the capacity of the average person to participate in democratic decision-making. This challenge has led some observers to question the defensibility of democracy and consider other systems of social organization. I argue instead that the problem can be solved with a technologically enhanced version of Thomas Christiano’s choice of aims model of democracy. I begin by setting up the voter competency problem: I describe the ideals of democracy and the role that is ascribed to citizens under traditional accounts of democracy, then proceed to a discussion of the empirical evidence that shows how unlikely it is that voters could ever adequately perform such a role. While I consider a number of alternative democratic models which attempt to reconstruct the role of citizens in a way that is consistent with their capacities and with the democratic ideal of self-governance, I find that the choice of aims model strikes this balance in a way that is most tenable. Despite this, I argue that changes to the way information is distributed in modern democracies, to do with the rise of the internet, pose a serious threat to the viability of even this model, as it is becoming increasingly difficult for voters to ascertain reliable information. The second half of the thesis offers support to Christiano’s model in the form of technologically enhanced institutions. Chapter 3 provides a basic understanding of an emerging technology called distributed ledger technology, which offers a new paradigm for how information is stored, controlled, and distributed around society. The final chapter demonstrates how this technology can be used to strengthen democratic institutions so that citizens are able to truly be said to self-govern in a way that is consistent with their capacities.
The fiscal decentralization policy has made local governments have the authority to generate income and manage regional finance independently for public services and public welfare. This study aims to: 1) Analyze the degree of fiscal decentralization in Jambi Province; 2) Analyzing community welfare proxied from the human development index in Jambi Province; 3) Analyzing the impact of fiscal decentralization on the welfare of the community in Jambi Province. This study using panel data, a combination of time series data in 2010-2016 and cross section 11 districts/cities in Jambi Province. The method of data analysis is descriptive analysis and panel data regression analysis approach, namely the fixed effect model (FEM). Hypothesis testing uses the F test statistic and the statistical t test. The results showed that: 1) The degree of fiscal decentralization, namely the ratio of district own source revenue (PAD) to total regional income (TPD) in each district/city in Jambi Province was relatively relatively low, whereas for Jambi Province it was in good category; 2) Community welfare as illustrated by the human development index in each district/city including Jambi Province is still in the moderate category, except Jambi City (76.14) and Sungai Penuh City (73.35) are categorized as high; 3) Fiscal decentralization has a positive and significant impact on improving community welfare. it means that the better the implementation of fiscal decentralization, the higher the level of community welfare.
Abstract Since new distributed ledger technologies hold out a promise to restructure cross‐border flows of people and material resources, they affect globalization and alter transnational spaces. Their capacity to facilitate secure and disintermediated value transfer through crypto‐code and smart contracts enables novel forms of remittance transfer, resource management and digital identity verification – and may also generate new vulnerabilities. In this article, we examine the use of emerging blockchain applications in various migration and diaspora related initiatives in the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and Europe. By building on existing social networks of mutual obligation and quasi‐ethnic affinities, blockchain technologies may facilitate the ability to enlarge the scope of diasporas and change the nature of belonging, sovereignty, migration and statehood. Through exploring the selective foregrounding of mutuality and materiality in such alternative value transfer systems, we seek to explain the dynamics of trust and agency that these networks generate to extend commitments and loyalties in the transnational space.
Este trabajo ha obtenido el 1.er Premio «Estudios Financieros» 2018 en la modalidad de Tributación. La tecnología de los mayores distribuidos está apenas en su infancia, pero como evidencia la inclusión de los criptoactivos en el último comunicado del G20, estamos entrando en la era Blockchain, una tecnología para el intercambio de valor en red sin mediación de intermediarios que es lo más disruptivo desde de la aparición de internet. Blockchain, que forma parte ya del sistema de pagos, tiene un alto potencial para transformar los servicios privados y públicos. A medida que las monedas virtuales ganan terreno, se acrecienta la conveniencia de que los hechos imponibles a que da lugar su acuñación, intermediación o utilización como resguardo de valor o medio de pago gocen de regulación específica o, cuando menos, de criterios interpretativos claros. Estos, a su vez, precisan de una especificación por parte del regulador internacional de la naturaleza contable de las criptomonedas, algo improbable a corto plazo. En su ausencia, el tratamiento fiscal que emerge en derecho comparado es el de activos en impuestos directos y el de dinero en IVA, calificación que es, como mínimo, inconsistente. Más allá de las preocupaciones por la seguridad jurídica y la integridad del sistema financiero y tributario, debido a la pseudopacidad que garantizan, la aplicación de la nueva tecnología a los servicios públicos es un vasto campo que roturar, con prometedoras experiencias comparadas en lugares como Estonia, Dinamarca o Australia.
China initiated a major decentralization reform in recent years to simultaneously improve tax autonomy and fiscal transfers toward county governments. We use an instrumental variables strategy and a county-level panel dataset for years 1995-2014 to examine the incentive effects of the reform. We find that the reform significantly reduced tax enforcement of the county governments, for which the result appears to be driven by the opposing incentive effects of the increased local tax autonomy and fiscal transfers. In particular, while the reform motivated county governments to improve tax enforcement by enhancing local tax autonomy, it dampened local tax enforcement because of the increased fiscal transfers. Our findings provide support to the argument in the decentralization literature that improving local tax autonomy, compared to increasing fiscal transfers, is a more effective way to finance local governments while strengthening local fiscal discipline.
Focusing on the overlapping areas of the logistics industry with a large number of mature blockchain applications and the public welfare industry that requires high transparency and credibility, this paper designs and implements an innovative philanthropy logistics platform based on blockchain technology through the Ethereum platform. Our platform makes use of the open, transparent, and irrevocable features of the blockchain, combined with a unique Responsibility Relay System and Evaluation and Reporting Mechanism, and can achieve the consistency of the data on the chain with real-world status, as well as the authenticity and transparency of philanthropy logistics data. This paper also establishes a model for evaluating philanthropy material donations for social welfare based on the classic network maximum flow algorithm. After four months of empirical analysis, we have concluded that the blockchain platform can greatly increase the user's trust in the project, enhance the system's cleanliness coefficient and increase the quality of philanthropically raised materials, thereby improving the public welfare of charitable donations. The paper draws the conclusion that this blockchain platform is a technical solution for maximizing social welfare.
The IRS recently dealt a blow to Bitcoin enthusiasts by ruling that Bitcoin and other similar currencies should be treated as property–and not foreign currency–for income tax purposes. As a result, those who use bitcoins to purchase goods or services must report gain or loss on each transactionn if the bitcoins have changed value between the time they were acquired and spent. Treating Bitcoin as a foreign currency would have permitted individuals to take advantage of the $200 personal-use exemption and required taxpayers to adopt a formulaic system for tracking the basis of commingled bitcoins.The IRS's decision seems correct as a matter of positive law, but laws can always be changed. In this Article I consid4r whether Bitcoin should be treated as a foreign currency for income tax purposes. I conclude that tax authorities should adopt a foreign currency definition that excludes bitcoin and similar currencies because (1) a broad definition ciould create significant administrative and line-drawing problems, and (2) the government has little interest in promoting alternate currencies . Nor should authorities extend the personal-use exemption to virtual currencies. In contrast, authorities should extend the basis rules applicable to foreign currency to virtual currencies to prevent taxpayers from using the basis rules to improperly reduce their tax obligations.
In this article, the authors discuss the VAT treatment of sales and transfers of Bitcoin carried out in Mexico. For this purpose, they analyse the current state of Mexican law, but also review the applicable VAT regime in jurisdictions around the world, such as in Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the European Union. The authors then provide an overview of recently enacted legislation in Mexico and its foreseeable impact on the VAT treatment of Bitcoin.
The study aims to determine the opinions of school principals on decentralization in education. Phenomenological research design was used in the study. The purposive sampling methods of convenience and criterion samplings were used together. The study group was composed of six volunteer principals. The data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured form. Descriptive analysis and inductive content analysis were used. In conclusion, from a holistic perspective, most of the participants found the concept of decentralization to be close to full autonomy which is usually perceived as dangerous in terms of the unitary state structure. Therefore, they have more centralized attitudes towards educational processes other than financing and infrastructure support regarding decentralization in education. This is indeed an indication that concerns regarding decentralization in education are high. The participants think that decentralization will not harm our national identity and the national education structure is beneficial.
PETER MWIATHI SILAS, Nelson Wawire, Perez Ayieko Onono-Okelo
The Kenya government has instituted fiscal decentralization over the years to promote social economic development, reduce poverty and income inequality and ensure balanced regional development. Despite these efforts, poverty levels have remained high in Kenya. The literature on the relationship between fiscal decentralization and poverty has been rather inconclusive about the effects of fiscal decentralization on poverty. The main objective of this paper was to analyse the effects of fiscal decentralization on poverty in Kenya. Using cross-county panel data from 2002 – 2014 and published data from government agencies, UNDP reports and World Bank reports, the paper estimated various empirical models to analyse the effects intergovernmental transfers, sub-national own-source revenue and county expenditure on poverty in Kenya. The study established that the effect of fiscal decentralization on poverty depends on the nature of decentralization and the extent of fiscal decentralization as well as the county specifics. The paper therefore, recommends the need for for county governments to have adequate own-source revenue to finance their expenditure as opposed to relying on intergovernmental transfers from national government.
This chapter examines the fiscal structure of the Brazilian from 1822 to 1930 to ask how the government proposed to pay for the public goods mandated in its political documents. It shows that Brazil established a century-long practice of relying on indirect taxes on the circulation of goods and services and on wealth transfers to pay for public goods. This reliance on indirect taxes increased the cost of goods and services, while their regressive nature placed the greatest fiscal burden on those with the least. Moreover, Brazil’s fiscal structure disproportionately channeled public finance to the national government, and then favored the state government, depriving municipalities of resources necessary to fulfill their extensive mandate. Finally, because taxes and fees on the local economy financed local government, the ability to investment in the quality of life to raise standards of living varied from community to community. The institutional shift from highly centralized empire when municipalities had no fiscal autonomy (1822-1930) to decentralized republic when municipalities had nearly complete autonomy (1890-1930) did not alter these fundamental characteristics. The chapter details the sources and evolution of revenue streams for the seven municipalities, demonstrating their inadequacy to satisfy local requirements of public goods investments.
In the age of incessant technological advancement, the phenomenon of decentralized cryptocurrency as quickly emerged as an inescapable element of social, economic and legal discourse. At the same time, pre-eminent international tax issues such as tax evasion, profit shifting and other criminal activity have deeply exacerbated. A correlation coefficient does not necessarily exist between these two variables. However, it is often intimated that the magnitude of tax evasion is predicated on the opportunities for evasion. \nIn cognisance of this fact, this essay tenders the argument that cryptocurrency portends serious potential as a foreboding role player in the international tax evasion rhetoric. It is highlighted that – in spite of the growing apprehension of cryptocurrency – many regulatory authorities and institutions maintain a passive disposition towards the intricacies of cryptocurrency. \nAs such the primary research objective is steered towards tracing the origination and operation of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin in particular. Utilizing this point of departure, certain attributes of Bitcoin are highlighted as being problematic from a tax administration and enforcement perspective. It is demonstrated how the idiosyncratic features of Bitcoin render it propitious to the general polemic of tax evasion. An argument is further appraised that depicts Bitcoin as potentially having functional intersections to conventional notions of tax havens. The rampant criminal activity that has been engendered by cryptocurrency is also portrayed. \nThe research is limited to examination of the potential of Bitcoin in regard to cross-border tax evasion and illicit financial flows. As such aspects such as the potential interaction of Bitcoin with Value-Added tax and exchange control are omitted. \nOn finality, an examination is conducted on the responses to Bitcoin from authorities in the United States and South Africa. It is found that despite a lack of regulatory congruity from different bodies in the United States, gallant strides have been made in classifying Bitcoin and attending to the tax evasion threats it poses. On the other hand, it is found that South African authorities have cognized the existence of Bitcoin. This has however not led to any direct, concrete regulatory response. In light of this, a number of recommendations have been suggested as a catalyst for reform.
This paper considers growing fiscal capacity of the European early modern states as contingent to taxpayer’s consent in higher tax loads. It puts forward the hypothesis that war damages were the main factor guiding the taxpayer’s cost-benefit assessment of consenting or violently resisting to a fiscal innovation. To test the hypotheses, we consider data on Portugal in times of political struggle against the Habsburgs to restore and keep the political autonomy after 1640. The war was financed by an entirely new, universal income tax, remaining in the Portuguese fiscal system well until the liberal revolution in 1820, although enforced by a decentralized and nonspecialized administration. A model derives the optimal tax rate from the standpoint of the taxpayer as a function of war intensity, risk aversion, and awareness that evasion would enhance war damages. Data on damages, contemporary assessments of the tax base, and amounts enforced allow the model’s calibration. Results suggest the accuracy of the hypothesis and draw the conclusion that taxpayers’ utility in paying the new tax determined the efective tax rate (tax enforced). This paper claims that ultimately improvements in the fiscal capacity of states needed taxpayer’s perception of high levels of destruction, hence any political regime in early modern Europe must have found in war damages a persuasive argument to make efective a fiscal innovation. The other contribution of this case study is pointing out the advantage of the assignment of the tax collection to local, non-professional administration, for the endurance of a fiscal system, which incorporated an income tax that withstood the liberal revolution. It enhanced the role of peer monitoring and turned out to be an efective way of instilling social norms contributing to build up the taxpayer’s liability, which somehow the liberal state in 19th century exploited within a different technological environment.
El crecimiento exponencial de los bitcoins ha llevado a la necesidad de la AEAT de potenciar sus herramientas de seguimiento de las transacciones relacionadas con monedas virtuales, y a la Dirección General de Tributos a pronunciarse (aunque de manera escasa) sobre su tributación. En materia de imposición directa, las rentas derivadas de la compraventa y de minado de bitcoins tributarán como rendimientos de actividades económicas en el Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas (o, en su caso, como ganancias/pérdidas patrimoniales) o como ingresos en el Impuesto sobre Sociedades. Desde el punto de vista del Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido, la compraventa de bitcoins se considera una actividad sujeta y exenta, mientras que el minado de bitcoins no tendría la consideración de prestación de servicios onerosa en el sentido de la jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea. En el Impuesto de Actividades Económicas, tales actividades deberán incluirse, como regla general, en el epígrafe 831.9 de la sección primera, «Otros servicios financieros n.c.o.p.» y en materia del Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio, los bitcoins deberán ser declarados por su valor de mercado a 31 de diciembre de cada año. Finalmente, y respecto del modelo 720, el Anteproyecto de Ley de Medidas de Prevención y Lucha contra el Fraude Fiscal contempla expresamente la obligación de informar sobre la tenencia de monedas virtuales situadas en el extranjero.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise the chief aspects of policy interest in blockchain technology. Design/methodology/approach The paper outlines policymaking processes in the context of innovation and technological change, assesses generic variations in policy treatment towards blockchain, and identifies manifestations of policy entrepreneurship using national case studies of blockchain policies. Findings Favourable policy dispositions towards blockchain technology are interpreted as political efforts to develop local, blockchain-enabled economies. So-called “crypto-friendly” jurisdictions proactively clarify regulatory and tax treatments of cryptocurrency and other blockchain applications, and trial blockchain uses in fields predominated by public sector activity. Policymakers in countries hostile towards blockchain-related activity have instigated bans or strict limitations with respect to blockchain engagement by developers and users. Research limitations/implications Reliance upon case studies suggests the need for alternative study approaches (e.g. index construction, empirical research) as blockchain use consolidates throughout the global economy. Practical implications This paper provides insight to policymakers and blockchain practitioners regarding the attributes of accommodative policies towards distributed ledger technology. Social implications Countries and sub-national regions exhibiting a more welcoming policy stance are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and investors in the crypto-economic blockchain space. Originality/value This paper develops a policy “crypto-friendliness” construct to assess the extent to which policymakers enact accommodative policies for blockchain development.