Category: Consumption

The Tampon Tax

The tampon tax has become an on-going discussing topic. Support to repeal this tax has increased in the last years, with activists arguing that menstrual hygiene products should be classified as tax-exempt necessities, alongside other items such as food, tap water and medicine. This issue pertains to gender equality, affordability and women’s health. While the large majority of the countries around the world still tax menstrual hygiene products as non-essential goods, some countries are starting to lift or reduce the tax. In 2004, Kenya became a trailblazer when it was the first country in the world to repeal the tampon tax. Listen to this podcast to learn more on the topic, by discovering both sides of the argument, and understanding the implications following an amendment of the tax.

VAT evasion in Italy – Beeler Valentina

Bibliography Allingham, G., & Sandmo, A. Income Tax Evasion: A Theoretical Analysis. Journal of Public Economics 1, no. 3- 4, Nov. 1972, pp. 323–338. doi: 10.1016/0047-2727(72)90010-2 Brosio, G., Cassone, A. & Ricciuti, R. Tax Evasion Across Italy: Rational Noncompliance or Inadequate Civic Concern?. Public Choice 112, 259–273 (2002). doi: 10.1023/A:1019985022106 Chiarini B., Marzano E., & Schneider, F. Tax rates and tax evasion: an empirical analysis of the long-run aspects in Italy. Eur J Law Econ […]

Political Science Soliloquies – Episode 1: The sin tax on sugary drinks

This podcast episode talks about the major public health issues of obesity and diabetes and what could be done to solve them. The main focus lies on the sin tax on sugary drinks, or sugar-sweetened beverages, which was introduced in the USA in Berkeley, California in 2014. It explores what a sin tax is in general and its mechanics, while then diving deeper into the benefits but also possible downfalls of this instrument when it […]