Changing the tax landscape
Access denied
Introduction
In this activity, students engage in an interactive to consider the impact of changes to Australia’s tax base on government revenue, macroeconomic goals and equity in the distribution of income. They work in groups to predict the impact of tax reform proposals and to assess whether these proposals meet the principles of a good taxation system.
Topics:
The impact of microeconomic reform (tax reform) on aggregate supply
The impact of aggregate supply policies on domestic macroeconomic goals and living standards
The effect of tax reform on equity in the distribution of income
Principles of a good taxation system
See also:
Teacher resources
In order to see the resources you must Register or Login if you already have an account.
Principles of a good taxation system
Tax change proposal cards
Student learning resources
In order to see the resources you must Register or Login if you already have an account.
Tax models
Changing the tax landscape
The impact of a tax change
Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group. If you assign this activity to a class, your students will be assigned all student resources on their 'My learning' page. You can also hand-pick the resources students are assigned by selecting individual resources when you add a work item to a class in 'My classes'.
Part A: Interactive
- Use the visualiser to explain that a well-designed tax system will meet its revenue raising objective, while balancing the core principles of equity, efficiency and simplicity.
- As you explain each principle in turn, invite students to provide further examples if they can.
- Students complete the worksheet. They will need to access the Tax models – Interactive.
Part B: Group task
- Use a grouping strategy to organise students into groups of 3.
- Give each group one of the proposal cards. Ensure all cards have been distributed.
- Groups follow the group instructions to complete the task.
- Allow time for students to work through their predictions and present their findings to the class.
- Discuss each tax reform in turn and decide as a class if the reform:
- supports the achievement of the domestic macroeconomic goals
- improves Australia’s productive capacity
- improves living standards
- affects equity in the distribution of income
- meets the principles of a good taxation system.
- Class members rank the tax reforms in order of their effectiveness as a microeconomic or aggregate supply policy.
- Compare and discuss student rankings.
- Students write a short explanation of the most effective tax reform.