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Fiscal Policy

Informality - Policy Objectives, Options, and Constraints (POOC)

Deadline passed

Session No.: JV 23.11

Location: Vienna, Austria

Date: April 10-14, 2023 (1 week)

Delivery Method: In-person Training

Primary Language: English

    Target Audience

    Officials at ministries of finance, labor, and social affairs, and social security institutions involved in the analysis, design and implementation of tax and employment policies and social insurance schemes.

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    Qualifications

    Participants are expected to have a degree in social science (e.g., economics or social policy) or a related field.

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    Course Description

    "Disclosure: Due to COVID 19, courses will be delivered in person, hybrid, or virtual, according to safety guidelines. As of today, this course is scheduled to be delivered in person in Vienna, but its delivery method may change. By submitting your application, you confirm your availability to participate in the course either in person or virtually. Up-to-date Covid-19 vaccination is likely to be required and related information may be requested from participants for in-person courses."

    This course, presented by the Fiscal Affairs Department, focuses on how tax policy, revenue administration, labor market policies, and social insurance programs influence labor market informality - both in terms of registering labor relations and reporting tax-liable incomes. Boosting employment is a priority in many countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, where labor markets are often constrained by demographic trends, low labor-force participation (particularly among young people and women), and weak productivity growth. Undeclared work remains a significant challenge, leaving many individuals without social insurance and reducing revenue collection. For these reasons, many governments are considering reducing labor taxation to boost employment and curb undeclared work. This, in turn, generates financing needs for social insurance systems, particularly in contexts where such systems must be strengthened to provide adequate support at scale for workers and households. The course aims to discuss theoretical considerations. present country-specific examples of successful policy reforms and introduce participants to analytical tools and methods useful for policy design and impact analyses.

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    Course Objectives

    Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

    • Understand key issues in labor taxation and social benefits that are critical for promoting employment and reducing undeclared work and income.
    • Design a package of reforms customized for their own countries' parameters, including administrative capacity to reach workers and households with social benefits and tax invoices.
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