Latest news and press releases
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Newly launched Data Room produces rapid information for decision-making – Director’s position now open for applications
Press release 2.9.2022
To support evidence-based decision-making, a unit was established in Finland that is unique even by international standards. The Data Room, which has been granted funding for three years, is an independent unit of VATT Institute for Economic Research. It will work in close cooperation with Helsin...
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Finnish centre of excellence in tax systems research (FIT) Launch 1.9.: Keynote by Joel Slemrod
News 31.8.2022
The launch of the Finnish centre for excellence in tax systems research takes place on Thu Sept 1 in Tampere. The event's keynote speech is held by Professor Joel Slemrod (MIT), internally acclaimed economics researcher and pioneer in tax systems research.
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Study: Earnings declines following job loss in mass layoffs differ between countries in Europe – the impact is smallest in Sweden and Denmark, largest in Italy, Spain and Portugal
Press release 21.7.2022
Workers in Denmark and Sweden experience the lowest earnings declines following job loss in mass layoffs, while workers in Italy, Spain, and Portugal experience losses three times as high. Labour market policies have the potential to mitigate these differences.
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Student admissions reform of higher education institutions: Filling in most of student places based on certificate admissions made admission process more efficient
Press release 3.6.2022
As of 2020, at least half of students for higher education institutions have been selected based on their matriculation examination certificate or vocational education and training grades. Compared to the previous, fragmented application system, the change made student admissions more efficient, ...
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VATT study: Significant regional pay gaps in public social and healthcare services
Press release 25.3.2022
Social and healthcare service salaries are largest in Eastern Uusimaa and smallest in South Savonia. In basic healthcare, salaries in Helsinki are near lowest in the country, based on the VATT study published today.
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Rural low-income households bear a larger share of fuel carbon taxes
Press release 18.2.2022
An empirical study published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (JEEM) finds that residents in low-income and rural areas are disproportionately affected by increases in fuel carbon taxes. The study reveals that a diesel carbon tax increase was fully passed on to consumer pr...
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Researchers: cutting corporate taxes may only have a limited impact on small firms
Press release 17.2.2022
Cutting taxes affecting firms is commonly seen as a way of increasing growth and the level of investment. In a new SNS report, however, economists Jarkko Harju, Aliisa Koivisto and Tuomas Matikka argue that this strategy is not a given, as they see no clear evidence that reduced corporate taxes r...
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Economic Policy Council: Uncertain times require responsive and credible fiscal policy
Press release 26.1.2022
Government support expedited the economic recovery in 2021. The chosen supportive fiscal stance for 2022 is appropriate given worsened economic outlook. To preserve sustainability a plan about consolidating public finances should be devised without delays.
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Economic Policy Council publishes annual report and holds an online seminar Wed 26.1.
News 21.1.2022
Economic Policy Council will publish its annual report on the economic policy of the government and fiscal sustainability on January 26, 2022. An open online seminar will be held for anyone interested in the report.
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Increasing R&D subsidies and tax incentives pays off, but support must be targeted carefully
Press release 13.1.2022
A new study published on 13 January shows that the most effective support policy for research and development is to allocate subsidies to businesses with high R&D productivity or innovation capacity. Uniformly targeted subsidies – which in practical innovation policy are similar to R&D tax incent...
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Helsinki GSE economic situation room supports fast decision making amid the coronavirus crisis
News 2.12.2021
The project highlights Finland as a solid example of effective and timely policy decisions due to availability of data. The latest report (December 2) provides insight on the latest developments in the labour market and for households and firms.
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Open position: Senior Researcher - Business Taxation and Regulation
News 1.12.2021
We are looking for a senior researcher to a permanent position to strengthen our Business taxation and regulation research group. A senior researcher's research projects mostly focus on the effects of taxation and business subsidies on company decisions. Research projects may focus on the effects...
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VATT Institute for Economic Research is part of Centre of Excellence on Tax Systems Research
Press release 13.10.2021
The consortium consisting of the University of Tampere, VATT and the University of Helsinki has been selected for the Academy of Finland's Centre of Excellence programme. The consortium will be directed by Professor Kaisa Kotakorpi from the University of Tampere, and its subprojects will be led b...
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Welcome to VATT day 2021!
News 30.9.2021
VATT day 2021 will be organized as an online seminar on 1st October 2021 at 13.00 with the theme labour market and employment. The seminar focuses on measures to increase employment.
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Firm-level payroll tax cuts may alleviate unemployment during economic downturns
Press release 21.9.2021
A new study on the effects of payroll tax cuts on firm-level activity by Youssef Benzarti and Jarkko Harju was recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Public Economics. The study shows that firm-level payroll tax reductions make firms more resilient and less hampered by negative effec...