Revamp fiscal plan
My letter published today in Business Standard is copied below:
M G Warrier
Letter to BS: Time to improve the fiscal architecture of Indian economy
The long-term solution lies in mapping the nation's unaccounted for wealth and considering a realistic taxation policy that covers high income groups and agricultural income.
This refers to the article “Time to improve the fiscal
architecture” (February 1). The three suggestions by A Prasanna relating to the
creation of a Fiscal Council, the adoption of a ‘deficit neutral’ rule by the
government and advance annual ceiling for market borrowing make sense in the
context of the government’s search for external remedies for internal
debilities.
The government’s efforts to camouflage fiscal deficit using
surreptitious methods like deferring payments due and pressurising government-owned
bodies to divert funds or pay extra or advance dividends have invited adverse
observations by analysts. There is one school of thought that considers
explaining a higher deficit with more prudent and transparent accounting system
a better and desirable alternative than the present tightrope walking that
brings embarrassment to several organisations.
The long-term solution lies in mapping the nation’s
unaccounted for wealth and considering a realistic taxation policy
that covers high income groups and agricultural income.
M G Warrier Mumbai
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