MMPA509 Assignment - Currently New Zealand only provides

MMPA 509 T3 2021

Your assignment will be checked using the programme Turnitin to ensure compliance with the University’s rules on plagiarism. A submission link will be provided on Blackboard. More instructions on Turnitin can be found at https://learning.vicinnovate.ac.nz/turnitin4students.html

Instructions

Select one topic from the following list. Analyse the topic against the normative goals of equity, economic efficiency and ease of administration. Please refer to the attached marking guide for assessment criteria.

(Maximum length 1500 words)

1. Currently New Zealand only provides small incentives to encourage people to save for their retirement. Should New Zealand introduce larger incentives for people who save through traditional retirement savings schemes?

2. Australia has a universal health care system called Medicare. It is funded through a levy of 2% of taxable income for most taxpayers. Should New Zealand introduce a similar system?

3. New Zealand currently has little by way of wealth taxes. Should New Zealand introduce a broad-based land tax?

4. The gender pay gap is well established. Should New Zealand attempt to try to address this problem through the tax system?

5. Health issues associated with sugar consumption are now well known and a range of countries have now introduced sugar taxes. Should New Zealand introduce a sugar tax?

6. The Climate Change Commission in New Zealand has set out a blueprint recommending ways in which New Zealand can become carbon neutral by 2050. One option to reduce emissions is to encourage use of low- or no-emission vehicles. Should New Zealand introduce tax benefits for those who have low-emission vehicles and/or penalties for those who have high-emission vehicles?

7. New Zealand’s personal income tax rates are moderate by OECD standards. Should New Zealand increase personal income tax rates to those similar to Northern Europe?

8. Many workers were required to work from home during the Covid-19 lockdown. Under the employment limitation in section DA 2(4) employees in New Zealand are not permitted a deduction for expenses incurred in carrying on their employment duties from home. Should New Zealand allow employees to make deductions against their taxable income?

9. Some economists have expressed concern that New Zealand is headed towards a recession due to the ongoing impacts and disruption to the economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Should the New Zealand Government consider a temporary reduction in the rate of GST in order to help stimulate the economy in the wake of Covid-19?

10. The global economy is becoming increasingly automated, with more and more work performed by computers or robots. Should robots be taxed in New Zealand?

If there is a topic that you are interested in researching which is not included in the list above, please feel free to discuss with the Course Coordinator.