Globalization, fiscal policy and free competition: The impact in EU

¹ ULP – Lusófona University of Porto, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, R. de Augusto Rosa 24, 4000-098 Porto, Portugal
² IJP – Portucalense Institute for legal research, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 541, Porto, Portugal

^* Corresponding author: rosario.anjos@ulp.pt

Abstract

Research background: Globalization has profoundly changed the rules of play in the international economy. A new world order, new challenges and new difficulties have arisen as well new strategies to avoid the consequences of global free competition. Fiscal policy is a crucial tool in new global competition model, in special for regions with a high level of economic integration, as EU. In this context tax harmonization is extremely important to prevent distortions of competition in European market.

Purpose of the article: Study the political and institutional constraints of the tax harmonization and disclosure a small part of the initial results of a investigation project about “tax competition in EU”. Understand if and how lack of tax harmonization between the member states is one of the causes of inequity between them, in special the Euro zone countries.

Methods: Comparative study about income tax’s in Euro zone countries and the relation to PIB, as well the deductive method to analyse the results we find and some reference studies on the subject.

Findings & Value added: The goal is answer to the follow questions: what are the political and institutional limitations to tax harmonization in EU? Why there are no further progress in the field of tax harmonization? Can EU and Euro zone survive face a globalization challenge with the present fiscal disloyal competition between member states? What future for EU in a globalization era? Findings show that tax harmonization never was considered as a priority in EU, and maybe never will, what is a weakness in a globalization world.