The Role of Government and Taxation

An opinion Watch David Cameron’s talk (14 min.) on Listen carefully and take detailed notes on D. Cameron’s talk. What does the British Prime Minister say about the role of government today and before? What makes him a good presenter?

David Cameron on the role of the government (Ted Talk) a) Three periods in history according to D. Cameron? b) Reason for each period? c) According to D. Cameron, the role of the government today is to give people … ?

The Role of the State: Galbraith vs. Friedman TEXT STRUCTURE? 1. Main idea 2.Supporting sentences/examples 3.Concluding statement(s)

assignment: write one pg. on the topic below The Role of the State: Galbraith vs. Friedman max. ½ big note-book page or 1 small page obligatory elements: a)topic sentence b)supporting sentences c) one concluding sentence use connectors (linking words) if necessary (RB:p.66) Writing a paragraph

Paragraph Writing - Assessment ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:Pts. 1.Structure: oblig. elements?0, 0.5, 1 2.Content: accurate?0, 0.5, 1 3.Language: vocab., spelling, gramm.?0, 0.5, 1 GRADING:3 = grade 5 2.5=grade 4 2=grade 2 or 3 below 2= Fail (1)

The Role of the State: Galbraith vs. Friedman Sample paragraph The role of the state has always been debated by many great thinkers. For example, Milton Friedman criticised the state for its excessive intervention in people’s economic freedoms through taxation or many unnecessary licencing procedures. On the other hand, J.K. Galbraith argued for the presence of the state in sectors that make the good society such as low cost- housing or public health care. The difference between the two famous authors illustrates a range of opposed views still present in most societies today.

The Role of the State: Galbraith vs. Friedman Sample paragraph The role of the state has always been debated by many great thinkers. For example, Milton Friedman criticised the state for its excessive intervention in people’s economic freedoms through taxation or many unnecessary licencing procedures. On the other hand, J.K. Galbraith argued for the presence of the state in sectors that make the good society such as low cost-housing or public health care. The difference between the two famous authors illustrates a range of opposed views still present in most societies today.

Group work: Write a verbatim presentation (word by word) on the same topic (use sample presentations in RB: pp for guidance) Use signalling devices (presentation phrases),RB:53-54 Show the structure of your presentation in language (beginning, main part, close) Underline the presentation phrases Show the internal structure of the main part (changing topics) with appropriate presentation phrases Presentation The Role of the State: Galbraith vs. Friedman

Explain the meaning of the sentences below: An essential part of economic freedom is freedom to choose how to use our income... Currently, more than 40% of our income is disposed of on our behalf by government at federal, state and local levels combined. Milton and Rose Friedman MK: p.110

TAXATION

A few basic questions Who pays tax? Who collects tax and why? Do all taxpayers pay the same amount of tax? What is flat in flat tax? What is redistributed in redistributive taxation? Is it true that evading tax is much more dangerous than avoiding it? What happens in Croatia in February?

February in Croatia... Use the following words: Taxpayers Declare tax Income tax, local surtax File a tax return Tax authorities (Tax Administration)

VerbsNouns? collect tax evade tax avoid tax declare tax

VerbsNouns collect taxtax collection declare taxtax declaration evade taxtax evasion avoid taxtax avoidance

Types of tax Croatia value-added tax (VAT) personal income tax (PIT) corporate income tax (CIT), corporate tax, profit tax excise taxes (excise duties) inheritance and gift tax social security contributions surtax, local surcharges... MacKenzie (MK) - p.112 Additional reading:

Work on Text (1) Dodger Mania (Source: The New Yorker, July, 2011) Business English words government debtbudget deficitloophole defaultshadow economy backlog austerity plantax revenueexemption bailoutregressive taxcompliant public spendinglaw enforcement underreport tax evasiontax compliancetax rate central bankfraudtaxpayers Source:

Work on Text (2) Dodger Mania, The New Yorker, July, 2011 IWhich paragraphs fall within the headings below? 1.The problempg./pgs. __ 2.Reasons for the problem pg./pgs. __ 3.Implications pg./pgs. __ 4.New attempts pg./pgs. __ 5.Not an easy task pg./pgs. __ IIMake one sentence about each part of the text (1-5). Source:

Taxation: pros and cons What would J.K. Galbraith say? (RB: p.19) What would M. Friedman say? (MK: p.110) What does Warren Buffet say? What do others say? ( MK: p.113)