Overview

The overall aims and purpose of this module is: to identify the distinctive characteristics of tax system design; to review the principles of taxation; to consider tax policy including ethical and other tax policy issues; to examine public economics including concepts of fairness, efficiency and equity, social welfare; to consider the behaviour of individuals, households, firms and government; to compare international tax systems; to evaluate tax administration; and to calculate capital, income and consumption tax liabilities for individuals and businesses.

The place of taxation in the economy, what it is and its purpose (learning outcomes 1 and 2). The balance between equity and efficiency (learning outcomes 1 and 2); The basis and analysis of social welfare in the context of taxation (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3); Evaluation of the incidence of taxation and its influence on individuals, households and firms (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3); An analysis of individual, household, firm and government behaviour (learning outcome learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3); Comparison and evaluation of international taxation systems (learning outcome 5); Examine the operation of taxation systems and administrative issues (learning outcomes 3 and 4); Understand and apply public administration, taxation and other relevant interdisciplinary theories (learning outcomes 1, 2, and 3); The calculation of capital, income and consumption taxes for individuals and firms, to include tax planning (learning outcome 4).

Assessment Strategy

-Threshold 40-49% Threshold. A basic understanding of taxation (its role, key concepts, issues and its calculation) will be shown, but with little development of the lecture material, and some errors will be present. -Good 60-69% Good. A good understanding will be shown, together with evidence of wider reading and few errors will be made. -Excellent 70%+ Excellent. A sound understanding will be demonstrated, with very few errors, and significant evidence of wide reading in the topic. -Another level 50-59%. Conceptual and computational issues are covered beyond the basic level. There are few errors but analysis may lack comprehensiveness.

Learning Outcomes

• Compare and contrast comparative taxation systems.

• Demonstrate an ability to compute tax liabilities for individuals and businesses.

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the role of taxation in public sector economics.

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the underlying principles of taxation.

• Evaluate and critique tax administration.