{
  "title": "Taxing Financial Transactions: Issues and Evidence",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, March 1, 2011",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/index.md",
  "summary": "In reaction to the recent financial crisis, increased attention has recently been given to financial transaction taxes (FTTs) as a means of (1) raising revenue for a variety of possible purposes and/or (2) helping to curb financial market excesses.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary",
      "content": "- In reaction to the recent financial crisis, increased attention has recently been given to financial transaction taxes (FTTs) as a means of (1) raising revenue for a variety of possible purposes and/or (2) helping to curb financial market excesses.\n- The paper reviews existing theory and evidence on:\n  - the efficacy of an FTT in fulfilling those tasks,\n  - its potential impact,\n  - key issues to be faced in designing taxes of this kind."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Main themes and findings",
      "content": "- Purpose of FTTs:\n  - Raise revenue for a variety of possible purposes.\n  - Curb financial market excesses.\n- Scope of the review:\n  - Existing theory on FTTs.\n  - Empirical evidence on FTT effectiveness.\n  - Potential impacts of FTT implementation.\n  - Design issues and challenges for FTTs."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Design issues and policy considerations",
      "content": "- Key issues to be faced in designing taxes of this kind (as emphasized by the review):\n  - Determining the appropriate tax base and rates to meet revenue and/or market-stabilizing objectives.\n  - Anticipating and addressing potential market responses and avoidance behaviors.\n  - Evaluating trade-offs between revenue generation and impacts on market liquidity and cost of capital."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Citation example provided on the page",
      "content": "- Thornton Matheson. \"Taxing Financial Transactions: Issues and Evidence\", IMF Working Papers 2011, 054 (2011), accessed 9/18/2026, https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455220984.001"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Disclaimer (as presented in the source)",
      "content": "- This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.\n- The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy.\n- Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate.\n\nSource: Taxing Financial Transactions: Issues and Evidence — https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Wp1154\n  - Wp1154 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Wp1154 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Thornton Matheson",
    "Published: March 1, 2011",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455220984.001",
    "In reaction to the recent financial crisis, increased attention has recently been given to financial transaction taxes (FTTs) as a means of (1) raising revenue for a variety of possible purposes and/or (2) helping to curb financial market excesses.",
    "The paper reviews existing theory and evidence on:",
    "Purpose of FTTs:",
    "Scope of the review:",
    "Key issues to be faced in designing taxes of this kind (as emphasized by the review):",
    "Thornton Matheson. \"Taxing Financial Transactions: Issues and Evidence\", IMF Working Papers 2011, 054 (2011), accessed 9/18/2026, https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455220984.001",
    "This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.",
    "The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy.",
    "Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate.",
    "**Wp1154**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "Wp1154",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2011/_wp1154.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2011/_wp1154.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2011/_wp1154.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/taxing-financial-transactions-issues-and-evidence-24702/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-18T06:39:10.594Z"
}
