Future of the Armed Forces: understanding issues around integration of Regular and Reserve personnel

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in collaboration with the British Army and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is seeking to commission innovative research projects to help inform some of the pressing issues facing the Armed Forces in the process of integrating Regular and Reserve components into a ‘Whole Force’ structure.

Significant changes that are expected as a result of the transformation process require high quality social science analysis. Research can help to identify, explain and understand the cultural, social and economic issues that impact on both Regular and Reserve components and to identify additional external factors which may have an influence on the successful integration.

Proposals for this call are invited to address one or more of critical issues which will inform the transformation process, for example:

Social, economic and cultural issues that impact on regulars and reservesAttitudes of families, employers and wider society towards reserve serviceEmpirical evidence of the impact of amendments to personnel and training policiesAny cultural change for both Regular and Reserve components.

The areas are not exclusive and we welcome innovative research proposals focusing on these issues or other relevant issues within the remit of this call. Some of the issues addressed in the call are not unique to the Armed Forces and applicants are encouraged to demonstrate in their proposals how their research could help address similar circumstances outside of the military, for example understanding the implications for families where one member may be absent for a long period of time due to professional duties.

The closing date for proposals is 16.00 on 14 November. Proposals should be submitted electronically using the Research Council’s Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) form.

For further guidance and information, please contact:

Enquiries relating to the Je-S application procedure should be addressed to:

View the original article here

By 2008, the AMT Will Cost More to Repeal Than the Regular Income Tax

William G. Gale, Leonard E. Burman, Jeff Rohaly

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

© TAX ANALYSTS. Reprinted with permission.

This report is available in its entirety in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

Taxpayers pay alternative minimum tax (AMT) if their AMT liability exceeds their regular income tax. Originally targeted at a few high-income households who paid no federal income tax, this class tax is about to become a mass tax. The projected expansion occurs because the AMT is not indexed for inflation and because last year's tax cut steadily pares regular income tax obligations without providing significant and sustained AMT relief. The increases are troubling because the AMT is notoriously complex and has dubious effects on equity and efficiency.

This report is available in its entirety in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

View the original article here