Conference Agenda
Overview and details of the sessions of this conference.
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Some information on the session logistics:
If not stated otherwise, the discussant is the following speaker, with the first speaker being the discussant of the last paper. The last speaker of each session is the session chair. (Exception: invited sessions)
Presenters should speak for no more than 20 minutes, and discussants should limit their remarks to no more than 5 minutes. The remaining time should be reserved for audience questions and the presenter’s responses. We suggest following these guidelines also in the (less common) 3-paper sessions in a 2-hour slot, to allow participants to move between sessions. Discussants are encouraged to avoid summarizing the paper. By focusing on a few questions and comments, the discussants can help start a broader discussion with the audience.
Only registered participants can attend this conference. Further information available on the congress website https://www.iseg.ulisboa.pt/en/event/iipf/ .
Venue address: ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics & Management, R. Francesinhas 21, 1200-675 Lisboa, Portugal
Please note that all times are shown in the time zone of the conference. The current conference time is: 17th Sept 2026, 11:06:32am WEST
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Daily Overview |
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G01: Capital Gains Taxation: Design, Avoidance and Distortions Location: Room 101 (Francesinhas 1) | |
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5:45pm - 6:07pm
All Your Basis are Belong to Us: How Tax Basis Complexity Distorts Economic Behavior 1: University of Texas at Austin; 2: University of Pennsylvania; 3: Northeastern University, United States of America Tax basis is often treated as a simple accounting measure, yet in practice it creates powerful avoidance incentives and meaningful economic distortions. We survey basis-driven behavior from unilateral decisions to complex, multi-party transactions. In single-actor settings—such as cryptocurrencies, step-up in basis, and like-kind exchanges—housing markets bunch at the $500,000 capital gains exemption, implying an elasticity of taxable gains of 0.23. Homeowners also adjust basis through strategic improvements, especially where disclosure is limited. Two-party distortions include conservation easements, avoidance-motivated charitable giving, installment sales, and ETF in-kind contributions, which facilitate deferral and effective basis resetting; these contributions have grown from $5 million to $3 billion in 2025. In multi-party contexts, basis rules affect partnerships, acquisitions, and stock splits. Following a 2008 reform requiring broker basis reporting, annual stock splits fell by roughly 99 percent. Overall, basis complexity generates deadweight loss through misallocation, transaction costs, and rent-seeking.
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