Tax Reforms in Singapore

Abstract

This paper takes the view that tax reforms in the form of a reshuffling of marginal tax rates are more appropriate policy recommendations than a whole-sale restructuring of a country's tax system. We adopted a simple model that yields simple and intuitive recommendations on the directions of such tax reforms. This model is estimated using the 1987/88 Singapore Household Expenditure Survey. The result also suggests that the recently introduced Goods and Services Tax may be an efficient reform, especially if the government puts limited value on inequality.