Pew's fiscal analysis initiative seeks to increase fiscal accountability, responsibility, and transparency by providing independent and unbiased information to policy makers and the public as they consider the major policy issues facing our nation. Together with outside experts from across the political spectrum, the initiative provides fiscal analysis and accessible information to inform the debate on these pressing concerns.
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Implications of Different Bases for a Value Added Tax
This paper, written by the Tax Policy Center (TPC) and sponsored by the Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative, examines the impacts of different Value-Added Tax (VAT) bases and how they vary among income and age groups. The analysis considers how different tax bases affect the VAT rate needed to reduce the deficit by 2 percent in 2015, its distributional burden, and effective marginal tax rates on... Read More
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The U.S. Debt Limit - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The debt limit (also called the debt ceiling) is established in law and limits the amount of debt that the federal government can issue. If the federal government reaches the debt ceiling and its obligations continue to exceed revenues, it eventually will be unable to make some payments and will face default. According to estimates by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the government will... Read More
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One in 31: Arkansas
1 in 29 adults in Arkansas is under correctional control. Read More