Author Archives: amandaleigh044

The big question during this strange time is who should receive aid from the government. As packages are/were being proposed, there is an inherent tension between individuals and businesses. And within businesses, there is further tension between big business and small. We saw the failings of an approach that openly favors big businesses, but itContinue reading “Options for Bail Outs”

In Class 7 we discussed the assumption under a Tiebout that people have the mobility to choose where they live and therefore, a say in their public good provisions. More often than not, this is not the case as people are limited in where they can live based on factors such as affordability and accessibility.Continue reading “Upzoning in Minneapolis”

As markets increasingly include the sale of online goods and services, it has become common for policy makers to try to incorporate these goods into traditional revenue streams. Applying a sales tax to services like Netlfix, Spotify, and other streaming platforms is a response to the decline in typical media purchases (DVDs, cable, movie tickets,Continue reading “Taxing Streaming Services”

I was doing some research for my thesis and came across this article from 2015 which talks about the difficulties in collecting delinquent property taxes. It raises an interesting question about the priorities of the City of Philadelphia when it comes to different initiatives and agenda items. The City prioritizes collecting these delinquent taxes overContinue reading “Collectability of Delinquent Property Taxes”

Our discussions of property taxes in Class 5 reminded me of a local tax district that I recently learned about. Some of my cousins have been getting married and recently bought houses, so when I went home for break, I learned about the reasons why they chose to live (or not to) in certain cities.Continue reading “Mello-Roos in OC”

In a recent article by Ben Casselman of The New York Times the trend of job growth over the last few years is discussed as a promising start to 2020 and indicating a strong labor supply. However, the author also notes that wages have not seen the same increase. I found myself trying to visualizeContinue reading “Job Growth in the US”

Our discussions in class the other day reminded me of an article I read in The Inquirer a few months back regarding Philadelphia’s wage tax. At-large council member Allan Domb proposed a piece of legislation that would allow eligible low-income Philadelphia workers (both residents and non-residents) to receive a refund on their paid city wageContinue reading “Philadelphia’s Wage Tax”

When considering what makes good tax policy, this article brings up a question of collectability and political feasibility. With trade and other economic activity increasingly taking place online, it is difficult to assign a physical location and therefore, method of taxation. Although this is a global issue, I find it unlikely that proposed methods ofContinue reading “Taxation in a Digital Economy”

This blog contains articles, videos, and other interesting finds pertaining to public finance and policy.