TRA-IGC-REPOA International Conference on Tax for Growth
The inaugural TRA-IGC-REPOA International conference on Tax for Growth brings together world-leading researchers and policymakers to discuss questions relating to enhancing domestic resource mobilisation and strengthening tax systems in sub-Saharan Africa. The event is co-hosted by the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the International Growth Centre (IGC), and REPOA.
Pedro Vicente
Professor of Economics, Nova School of Business and Economics
Priya Manwaring
Researcher, University of Oxford
Fabrizio Santoro
Research Fellow, International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD)
Jihye Jang
PhD Student, Cornell University
Mazhar Waseem
Lecturer in Economics, University of Manchester
Ahmed Ndyeshobola
Senior Research Fellow, REPOA
Donald Mmari
Executive Director, REPOA
Jane Mpapalika
Senior Researcher, REPOA
Lucas Katera
Director of Collaborations & Capacity Building, REPOA
Jamal Msami
Director of Strategic Research, REPOA
Jasmin Vietz
PhD Student, University of Hohenheim
Nada Eissa
Associate Professor, Georgetown University
David Henning
PhD student, University of California - Los Angeles
Anders Jensen
Associate Professor, Harvard University
Tewodros Makonnen Gebrewolde
Senior Country Economist, Ethiopia, International Growth Centre
James Dzansi
Senior Country Economist, Ghana, International Growth CentreTina Kaidu
Researcher, Uganda Revenue Authority
Jonathan Leape
Executive Director, IGC and Associate Professor of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Twivwe Siwale
Head of Tax for Growth Initiative, International Growth Centre
Nhial Kuch
Country Economist, Uganda, International Growth Centre
Ahmed Ndyeshobola
Senior Research Fellow, REPOA
Felix Mambo
Country Economist, Mozambique, International Growth CentreSantiago Garriga
Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas UNLP
Ephraim O. Mdee
Director Research and Planning, The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Massaga J. Fimbo
Manager Research and Innovation, The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Amos Ibrahim
Head of Short Training, The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)-
Conference Programme.pdf
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Opening Remarks
8:30 - 8:40 Introduction to Day One
Richard M Kayombo (Director for Tax Payer Services and Education, TRA) Stephen Mwombela (REPOA)
8:40 - 9:10 Welcome Remarks
Mr Alphayo J. Kidata (Commissioner General, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Permanent Secretary – President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government)
Prof. Jonathan Leape (Executive Director, International Growth Centre) REPOA
9:10 - 9:25 Opening Address
Why Does Tax Matter for Development?
09:25 – 9:45 Introduction to Session One
Presentation: The importance of tax for development
Prof. Anders Jensen (Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard
University)
9:45 – 10:15 Panel discussion: The tax and development landscape in Tanzania
Chair: Prof. Nada Eissa (Associate Professor of Public Policy and Economics, Georgetown University)
Prof. Anders Jensen (Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University)
Maliki Saba to (Senior Manager, KPMG Tanzania)
Dr Donald Mmari (Executive Director, REPOA)
10:15 - 10:25 Q&A
10:25 - 10:30 Vote of Thanks
Making Tax Enforcement Work
11:00 – 11:05 Introduction to Session Two
Chair: Dr Tewodros Gebrewolde (Senior Country Economist, IGC Ethiopia)
11:05 – 11:30 Presentation: Consumer Incentives to Improve VAT Collection in Tanzania
Dr Amos J Ibrahim (Head of Short Courses, Institute of Tanzania Revenue Authority’s Training Institution)
Discussant: Jane Mpapalika (Senior Researcher, REPOA)
11:30 – 11:55 Presentation: Firm Relationships and Tax Policy Innovations: Experimental Evidence from Zambia
Jihye Jang (PhD student, Cornell University)
Discussant: John Mulenga (Economist, ZRA)
11:55 - 12:05 Q&A
12:05 – 12:30 Presentation: Customs Tax Evasion in Uganda
Prof. Nada Eissa (Associate Professor, Georgetown University)
Discussant: Nicholas Musoke (Supervisor, Research, Uganda Revenue Authority)
12:30 - 12:40 Q&A
Valued-Added Tax: Flawed but Best?
14:05 – 14:10 Introduction to Session Three
Chair: Abou Bakarr Kamara (Senior Country Economist, IGC Sierra Leone)
14:10 – 14:30 Presentation: Does the Value-Added Tax Add Value?
Prof. Mazhar Waseem (Associate Professor, University of Manchester)
14:30 – 15:10 Panel Discussion: Value-Added Tax - Flawed but Best?
Chair: Twivwe Siwale (Head, Tax for Growth Initiative, IGC)
Prof. Mazhar Waseem (Associate Professor, University of Manchester)
Ahmed Haji Saadat (Director for Research and Planning, Zanzibar Revenue Authority)
Kelvin Mpembamoto (Deputy Director, Zambia Revenue Authority)
Dr Abebe Shimeles (Advisor, Ethiopian Ministry of Finance)
15:10 - 15:20 Q&A
15:20 - 15:25 Closing Remarks
Abou Bakarr Kamara (Senior Country Economist, IGC Sierra Leone)
Technology for Better Enforcement and Compliance
8:40 – 8:45 Introduction to Session Four
Chair: Nhial Kuch (Country Economist, IGC Uganda)
8:45 – 9:10 Presentation: The Promise and Pitfall of Technology: Evidence from Tax Collection in Ghana
Dr James Dzansi (Senior Country Economist, IGC Ghana).
Discussant: Akua Owusu-Asamoah (Head of Fiscal Decentralization Unit,
Ministry of Finance, Ghana)
9:10 - 9:35 Presentation: Technology Evolution and Tax Compliance: Evidence from Rwanda
Dr Fabrizio Santoro (Research Fellow, IDS and International Centre for Tax and Development)
Discussant: Denis Mukama (Assistant Commissioner, Planning and Research, Rwanda Revenue Authority)
9:35 - 9:45 Q&A
Tax Policy and Climate Transition
9:45 - 9:50 Introduction to Session Five
Chair: Prof. Jonathan Leape (Executive Director, IGC)
9:50 - 10:10 Presentation: The Role of Tax Policy in Promoting an Effective Climate Transition in Developing Countries
Prof. Kim Clausing (Eric M. Zolt Chair in Tax Law and Policy, UCLA)
10:10 - 10:40 Panel discussion: Tax Policy and the Climate Transition: Challenges and Opportunities
Chair: Prof. Jonathan Leape (Executive Director, International Growth Centre)
Prof. Kim Clausing (Eric M. Zolt Chair in Tax Law and Policy, UCLA)
Ahmed Ndyeshobola (REPOA)
Dr. Philip Kargbo (Director of Research, Sierra Leone National Revenue Authority)
10:40 - 10:50 Q&A
Engaging Citizens in State Building
11:20 – 11:25 Introduction to Session Five
Chair: Felix Mambo (Country Economist, IGC Mozambique)
11:25 - 12:15 Presentation: Maybe Citizens Should Pay Tax After All? (20 mins)
Dr Jamal Msami (Director of Strategic Research, REPOA)
Presentation: Leveraging Religious Leaders to Increase Voluntary Tax Compliance: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania (20 mins)
Jasmin Vietz (PhD student, University of Hohenheim)
Discussant: Dr Donald Mmari (Executive Director, REPOA)
12:25 – 12:55 Presentation: Public disclosure and tax compliance: Evidence from Uganda
Priya Manwaring (PhD student, University of Oxford)
Discussant: Robert Nowere (Director of Revenue Collection, Kampala Capital City Authority)
12:55 - 13:05 Q&A
13:05 – 13:35 Presentation: The Social Compact and Citizen Preferences for Redistribution in Mozambique
Prof. Pedro Vicente (Professor of Economics, Nova School of Business and Economics)
Discussant: Manuel de Araújo (Mayor of Quelimane)
13:35 - 13:45 Q&A
Closing
14:45 – 15:35 Panel discussion: Experimentation and Learning-by-Doing
Chair: Massaga Fimbo, Manager Research & Innovation, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Prof. Nada Eissa (Associate Professor, Georgetown University)
Ephraim O. Mdee, Director Research & Planning, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Prof. Anders Jensen (Harvard)
Dr Lucas Katera (REPOA)
15:35 - 15:50 Q&A
15:50 - 16:00 Mr. Alphayo J. Kidata (Commissioner General, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Permanent Secretary - President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government)
Prof. Jonathan Leape (Executive Director, International Growth Centre)