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An Analysis of South Africa's Value Added Tax

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  • Go, Delfin S.
  • Kearney, Marna
  • Robinson, Sherman
  • Thierfelder, Karen

Abstract

In this paper, the authors describe South Africa's value added tax (VAT), showing that (1) the VAT is mildly regressive, and (2) it is an effective source of government revenue, compared with other tax instruments in South Africa. They evaluate the VAT in the context of other distortions in the economy by computing the marginal cost of funds-the effect of raising government revenue by increasing the VAT rates on household welfare. Then they evaluate alternative, revenue-neutral tax systems in which they reduce the VAT and raise income taxes. For the analysis, the authors use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with detailed specification of South Africa's tax system. Households are disaggregated into income deciles. They demonstrate that alternative tax structures can benefit low-income households without placing excess burdens on high-income households.

Suggested Citation

  • Go, Delfin S. & Kearney, Marna & Robinson, Sherman & Thierfelder, Karen, 2005. "An Analysis of South Africa's Value Added Tax," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3671, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:3671
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    1. Cesar Revoredo-Giha & Luiza Toma & Faical Akaichi, 2020. "An Analysis of the Tax Incidence of VAT to Milk in Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Sahlén, Linda, 2008. "The Impacts of Food- and Oil Price Shocks on the Namibian Economy: the Role of Water Scarcity," Umeå Economic Studies 758, Umeå University, Department of Economics.
    3. John Page & Delfin S. Go, 2008. "Africa at a Turning Point? : Growth, Aid, and External Shocks," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6421.
    4. Sara Wong & Ricardo Arguello & Ketty Rivera, 2007. "Poverty impacts of increased openness and fiscal policies in a dollarized economy: a CGE-micro approach for Ecuador," Documentos de Trabajo 4367, Universidad del Rosario.
    5. Delfin Go & Marna Kearney & Vijdan Korman & Sherman Robinson & Karen Thierfelder, 2010. "Wage Subsidy and Labour Market Flexibility in South Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(9), pages 1481-1502.
    6. Robinson, Sherman & Thierfelder, Karen, 2017. "Taxes, Prices, and the Exchange Rate in the Destination-Based Cash-Flow Tax (DBCFT) System," Conference papers 332910, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    7. McDonald, Scott & Punt, Cecilia, 2005. "General equilibrium modelling in South Africa: What the future holds," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 44(1), pages 1-39, March.
    8. Sahlén, Linda, 2009. "Essays on Environmental and Development Economics - Public Policy, Resource Prices and Global Warming," Umeå Economic Studies 762, Umeå University, Department of Economics.
    9. Devarajan, Shantayanan & Go, Delfin S. & Robinson, Sherman & Thierfelder, Karen, 2009. "Tax policy to reduce carbon emissions in south Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4933, The World Bank.

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