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Using the tax system to collect fines
Author(s) -
Chapman Bruce,
Freiberg Arie,
Quiggin John,
Tait David
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
australian journal of public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-8500
pISSN - 0313-6647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2004.00387.x
Subject(s) - payment , revenue , enforcement , welfare , independence (probability theory) , public economics , business , social welfare , welfare system , economics , labour economics , finance , law , market economy , political science , statistics , mathematics
In this article we consider the possibility that fines could be collected through the tax and social welfare systems in the same way as higher education contributions and child support payments are currently administered. We argue that the existing system of fine collection and enforcement leads to high default rates and reduces the usefulness of fines as a sanction. We consider a range of models for the implementation of an income‐related fine collection system, and discuss their possible implications for issues including judicial independence, the time taken to repay fines and aggregate fine revenue.