Episode Summary
In this episode, FAI Director Mairi Spowage and Deputy Director João Sousa join economist Hannah Randolph to discuss tax proposals by all the parties in their manifestos, including plans to raise funds by increasing tax compliance, raising the global minimum tax on corporations, and Alba’s proposal to halve VAT. We also discuss whether or not the State Pension is low compared to other countries.
Episode notes
Participants
Dr Hannah Randolph, Associate Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Time stamps
(0:20) Are plans to increase tax compliance credible?
(10:10) Can the UK government raise the global minimum tax on corporations?
(11:40) More on tax: Reform’s costings & Alba’s plan to halve VAT (temporarily?)
(16:50) Is the UK State Pension low compared to other countries?
(21:50) What’s next in FAI General Election coverage
Further General Election coverage
We’re putting out several briefs analysing the party manifestos over the next few days in addition to the one on tax published yesterday, which will be published here. Topics will include: devolution, immigration, social security, economic strategy, and energy transition & climate change.
Be sure to register for our final webinar on Tuesday to get your General Election questions answered before you head to the polls. If you can’t make the webinar, you’ll be able to find a recording on our website on Wednesday.
Authors
Hannah is a Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. She specialises in applied social policy analysis with a focus on social security, poverty and inequality, labour supply, and immigration.
Mairi is the Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, she was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government and has over a decade of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis.
João is Deputy Director and Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, he was a Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Office for Budget Responsibility, where he led on analysis of long-term sustainability of the UK's public finances and on the effect of economic developments and fiscal policy on the UK's medium-term outlook.