The basic ideas behind these concepts are completely different. In the case of the Petersberg proposals, the tax relief is primarily induced by two measures, namely a reduction of tax rates in combination with a broadening of the tax assessment base. By contrast, the positive effects of the taxation including consumerism and adjustment in rates are most of all provoked by an adjustment in rates when calculating profits. This would reduce the burden on businesses even if the tax rates remained unchanged. Even though some of the Petersberg proposals have already been implemented in the German Annual Tax Act 1998 (“Jahressteuergesetz 1998”), it would be desirable to remove existing fiscal investment and innovation barriers by designing a corporate tax reform based on the taxation model including consumerism and adjustment in rates, since this would cause the greatest relief for businesses. As a result, the competitive position of Germany as a business location would be strengthened in the long term with positive effects on employment.
Contact
Katrin Voss, E-mail: voss@zew.de
Date
15.07.1998