The current cost-of-living crisis across Europe has been exacerbated by already high prices in va... more The current cost-of-living crisis across Europe has been exacerbated by already high prices in various sectors. These sectors are notably those with higher government interventions. This paper analyses the tax and regulatory reasons for high price levels across five EU countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece, and Romania. The various chapters outline the reasons for high price levels in various economic sectors and suggest policy solutions for national governments to reduce the burden on citizens. The primary burden of price increases is being felt by lower-income households, as these households spend a great portion of their income on everyday products. This may lead to social and political frictions if it remains unaddressed. Apart from the inflationary effects of an expansive monetary policy, it is argued that other interventions like regulation and taxation can lead to rising prices in particular industries. The high price levels in many of the sectors cited in the chapters can be attributed to excessive taxation levels, lack of competition, or misguided government policies. In several sectors, such as energy, housing, health, and basic consumer goods, the high levels of taxation and/or government regulation have led to additional inflationary pressures. The only sector that has seen continuously falling prices is telecommunication and digital services. In this sector, the effects of competition have led to technological progress, lower consumer prices, and better quality products. In several analysed countries, excise taxes on energy, tobacco, and alcohol exceed the mandatory lower bound set by the European Union. Countries that have room to reduce such taxes should consider tax reforms. Lowering the barriers to trade and competition across all product categories may prove to be the single-most efficient way to bring about a lowering of the general price level.
The current cost-of-living crisis across Europe has been exacerbated by already high prices in va... more The current cost-of-living crisis across Europe has been exacerbated by already high prices in various sectors. These sectors are notably those with higher government interventions. This paper analyses the tax and regulatory reasons for high price levels across five EU countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece, and Romania. The various chapters outline the reasons for high price levels in various economic sectors and suggest policy solutions for national governments to reduce the burden on citizens. The primary burden of price increases is being felt by lower-income households, as these households spend a great portion of their income on everyday products. This may lead to social and political frictions if it remains unaddressed. Apart from the inflationary effects of an expansive monetary policy, it is argued that other interventions like regulation and taxation can lead to rising prices in particular industries. The high price levels in many of the sectors cited in the chapters can be attributed to excessive taxation levels, lack of competition, or misguided government policies. In several sectors, such as energy, housing, health, and basic consumer goods, the high levels of taxation and/or government regulation have led to additional inflationary pressures. The only sector that has seen continuously falling prices is telecommunication and digital services. In this sector, the effects of competition have led to technological progress, lower consumer prices, and better quality products. In several analysed countries, excise taxes on energy, tobacco, and alcohol exceed the mandatory lower bound set by the European Union. Countries that have room to reduce such taxes should consider tax reforms. Lowering the barriers to trade and competition across all product categories may prove to be the single-most efficient way to bring about a lowering of the general price level.
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Papers by Giacomo Da Ros
This paper analyses the tax and regulatory reasons for high price levels across five EU countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece, and Romania. The various chapters outline the reasons for high price levels in various economic sectors and suggest policy solutions for national governments to reduce the burden on citizens.
The primary burden of price increases is being felt by lower-income households, as these households spend a great portion of their income on everyday products. This may lead to social and political frictions if it remains unaddressed.
Apart from the inflationary effects of an expansive monetary policy, it is argued that other interventions like regulation and taxation can lead to rising prices in particular industries. The high price levels in many of the sectors cited in the chapters can be attributed to excessive taxation levels, lack of competition, or misguided government policies.
In several sectors, such as energy, housing, health, and basic consumer goods, the high levels of taxation and/or government regulation have led to additional inflationary pressures.
The only sector that has seen continuously falling prices is telecommunication and digital services. In this sector, the effects of competition have led to technological progress, lower consumer prices, and better quality products.
In several analysed countries, excise taxes on energy, tobacco, and alcohol exceed the mandatory lower bound set by the European Union. Countries that have room to reduce such taxes should consider tax reforms.
Lowering the barriers to trade and competition across all product categories may prove to be the single-most efficient way to bring about a lowering of the general price level.
This paper analyses the tax and regulatory reasons for high price levels across five EU countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece, and Romania. The various chapters outline the reasons for high price levels in various economic sectors and suggest policy solutions for national governments to reduce the burden on citizens.
The primary burden of price increases is being felt by lower-income households, as these households spend a great portion of their income on everyday products. This may lead to social and political frictions if it remains unaddressed.
Apart from the inflationary effects of an expansive monetary policy, it is argued that other interventions like regulation and taxation can lead to rising prices in particular industries. The high price levels in many of the sectors cited in the chapters can be attributed to excessive taxation levels, lack of competition, or misguided government policies.
In several sectors, such as energy, housing, health, and basic consumer goods, the high levels of taxation and/or government regulation have led to additional inflationary pressures.
The only sector that has seen continuously falling prices is telecommunication and digital services. In this sector, the effects of competition have led to technological progress, lower consumer prices, and better quality products.
In several analysed countries, excise taxes on energy, tobacco, and alcohol exceed the mandatory lower bound set by the European Union. Countries that have room to reduce such taxes should consider tax reforms.
Lowering the barriers to trade and competition across all product categories may prove to be the single-most efficient way to bring about a lowering of the general price level.