Optimal dynamic taxation, saving and investment

Fiscal Policy;Optimization;public economics

Optimal dynamic profit taxation: The derivation of feedback Stackelberg equilibria

Game Theory;Corporate Tax;operations research

The employment policy of government: To create jobs or to let them create?

Employment;labour economics

Optimal dynamic taxation with respect to firms

Investment;Corporate Tax;investeringen

On time-inconsistency and pollution control: A macroeconomic approach

Fiscal Policy;Pollution Control;environmental economics

Cost savings of unit-based pricing of household waste: The case of the Netherlands

Using a panel data set for Dutch municipalities we estimate effects for weight-based, bag-based, frequency-based and volume-based pricing of household waste collection. Unit-based pricing shows to be effective in reducing solid and compostable and increasing recyclable waste. Pricing has no effect on the waste collected in surrounding municipalities (waste tourism). However, unit-based pricing may lead to illegal dumping. While empirical evidence is scarce, a social cost-benefit analysis shows that if the social valuation of illegal dumping is in line with the social costs for collecting and treating solid waste, the weight or bag-based systems are preferable.municipal waste management, social welfare, unit-based pricing systems

A differential game between government and firms: A non-cooperative approach

Game Theory;Government Expenditure;Taxation;econometrics

Cost savings of contracting out refuse collection

The article discusses the possible cost savings of contracting out refuse collection in the Netherlands. According to foreign econometric studies, contracting out refuse collection leads to cost savings of approximately 20%. Our findings indicate that similar cost savings apply to the Netherlands. However, different production technologies apply to internal or external refuse collection. The Chow test, which examines whether the estimated coefficients on the explanatory variables are the same, reveals that different cost functions have to be estimated for the sub-samples. We show that the postulated cost savings can even be larger, when taking account of effects of different production technologies. Though significant cost savings exist on contracting out waste collection, households will not experience these cost savings on a one to one basis. Private refuse collection firms must pay VAT while public firms are exempted. At present the Dutch fiscal system hinders a more pronounced role for private refuse collection firms.Refuse collection, cost estimation, Chow stability test, pooling, VAT

Explaining Sunday shop policies

Dutch municipalities have the right to decide on Sunday shop opening hours since 1996. Despite positive effects on economic growth and employment, many municipalities restrict Sunday trading in one way or another. Based on 2003 data we show that especially religious and political afilliation, regional differences and the size of the municipalities explain the variation between municipalities. The number and size of shops and household characteristics are significant although their influence seems to be smaller. There is less evidence that excessive competition with neighbouring municipalities induces shop opening on Sundays, although cross-border shopping seems to play a role. Population density has no effect.Sunday opening, economic regulation, probit estimation.