AN ESTIMATION OF THE TAXABLE CAPACITY, TAX EFFORT AND TAX BURDEN OF AN EMERGING ECONOMY: EVIDENCE FROM GHANA

John Kwaku Amoh

doi:10.32479/ijefi.7549

Abstract

This paper estimates taxable capacity, tax effort and tax burden with a view to examining the tax fairness perceptions and tax system efficiency. The study employed ordinary least squares regression and vector autoregressive model for historical time series data sourced from the World Development Indicators and Bank of Ghana. We found that Ghana's overall tax burden and average post-tax reform efforts are low suggesting tax fairness and tax system inefficiency respectively. We conclude that post-tax reform dispensation has not generated the much-needed tax revenues because of low tax efforts. Thus, tax revenue could be significantly maximized to aid the achievement of the sustainable development goals to move Ghana Beyond Aid. This paper extends literature by relying on estimates of taxable capacity, tax effort and tax burden to assess the tax fairness perceptions and tax administrative efficiency of an emerging economy. We posit that these triad terminologies move pari passu in assessing the efficiency and fairness of a country's tax system. We recommend that embarking on jurisdictional tax reforms should not only be about appropriate and a plethora of tax laws and multiplicity of taxes but also on the efficiency and integrity of tax administration. The judicious use and prompt accountability of tax revenues could help address tax unfairness perceptions in emerging economies.

Highlights

The significance of public revenues to underdeveloped and emerging economies cannot be discounted if their dreams of achieving accelerated economic progress would be realized (Kaldor, 1963)
The taxable capacity in Ghana is more than the actual tax revenue
From the foregoing discussions, we argue that since tax burden index gauges the entire tax burden borne by taxpayers, a high tax burden index would be perceived as tax unfairness whilst moderate and low indices would evoke tax fairness perceptions

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The significance of public revenues to underdeveloped and emerging economies cannot be discounted if their dreams of achieving accelerated economic progress would be realized (Kaldor, 1963). Amoh: An Estimation of the Taxable Capacity, Tax Effort and Tax Burden of an Emerging Economy: Evidence from Ghana. Though extant literature has assessed the role of taxable capacity, tax effort and tax burden in revenue generation and the efficiency of tax administration, the linkage to tax fairness perceptions has been overlooked. This research adds to literature by computing taxable capacity, tax effort and tax burden to assess the tax fairness perceptions and tax administrative efficiency of an emerging economy. There is the perennial effect of socio-economic factors such as the increasing budget deficits, public outcry over high

LITERATURE REVIEW

METHODOLOGY

Findings

OF EMPIRICAL RESULTS

CONCLUSION