OECD Economics Department Working Papers
Working papers from the Economics Department of the OECD that cover the full range of the Department’s work including the economic situation, policy analysis and projections; fiscal policy, public expenditure and taxation; and structural issues including ageing, growth and productivity, migration, environment, human capital, housing, trade and investment, labour markets, regulatory reform, competition, health, and other issues.
The views expressed in these papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the OECD or of the governments of its member countries.
- ISSN: 18151973 (online)
- https://doi.org/10.1787/18151973
Reforming the Tax System in Korea to Promote Economic Growth and Cope with Rapid Population Ageing
Korea has one of the lowest tax burdens in the OECD area, reflecting its small public sector.
However, rapid population ageing will put upward pressure on government spending. The challenge is to
meet the long-run need for greater expenditures and tax revenue while sustaining strong economic growth.
A pro-growth tax reform implies relying primarily on consumption taxes for additional revenue. There is
also scope for raising personal income tax revenue from its current low level by broadening the base by
reducing the exemptions for personal income. The planned cuts in the corporate tax rate should be financed
at least in part by reductions in tax expenditures. The broadening of direct tax bases would also help
finance an expansion of the earned income tax credit to address widening income inequality. In addition,
the local tax system should be simplified and reformed to enhance the autonomy of local governments.
Keywords: personal income tax, corporate income tax, tax expenditures, property tax, capital gains taxes, VAT, tax reform, earned income tax credit, Korean tax system, relative poverty, environmentally-related taxes, local tax system, tax wedge
JEL:
H22: Public Economics / Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue / Taxation and Subsidies: Incidence;
H20: Public Economics / Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue / Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue: General;
H25: Public Economics / Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue / Business Taxes and Subsidies;
H24: Public Economics / Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue / Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies;
H23: Public Economics / Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue / Taxation and Subsidies: Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
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