Taxation: Inequality, equity, and efficiency - an interview with Michael Keen
Channel: UNU-WIDER
Date: 2014-10-08

Michael Keen from the International Monetary Fund addressed the UNU-WIDER Development Conference  in September 2014 “Equity Objectives and Puzzles in Linking Tax and Spending”. 

In this interview he explains that subsidies might well not be the best way to help the poor, and that the overall balance of tax and spending measures is what needs to be taken into account.

Questions

0:13 Why does inequality matter in your work at the IMF? 
1:13 Why might general subsidies not be a good way to help the poor?
2:53 Even if the logic and mathematics are compelling, changes in tax policy might not be implemented. To what extent do other factors intervene?
4:57 What can you say about fiscal redistribution as an instrument for reducing poverty?
6:11 You stress that the balance of the overall package of tax (e.g. property tax) and spending which is important for ministers to consider – is that right?
7:02 Are you saying that for practical reasons it is harder to hide a big house than income?
7:52 Why is there such interest in inequality currently?
8:26 Are the urgent issues about inequality of wealth or absolute poverty?
8:56 What is the value of the UNU-WIDER approach and network?