In Search of the Most Efficient Tax for Jamaica

A country’s ability to mobilize revenue through taxation (i.e. to have an efective tax system) is synonymous with its capacity to
achieve sustainable growth and development.Through taxes, the state receives the funding necessary to perform its functions
and duties efectively. As such, the first and often the main objective of a tax system is to generate sufficient revenue to finance
public sector activities in a non-inflationary way. This report focuses on the relative effectiveness of different tax types–value
added taxes, income taxes, and property taxes – to generate revenue in the Jamaican context.

It assesses and compares the efficiency of each tax type, and in so doing, will guide tax policy-makers as to whether the tax structure should shif away from
taxing income (“your pay”) or taxing consumer spending (“your pocket”).