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Monitoring the competitiveness of the economy is becoming an important part of evaluating not only the national economy but also the entire economic groupings. In general, the prevailing view is that the competitiveness of the state is influenced primarily by the so called non-tax factors, which might include, in particular, the stability of the macroeconomic environment, law enforcement, construction of infrastructure, educational level of the population, and the like. Also rate of the tax burden, measured by various indicators, has its place in assessing the competitiveness of state, respectively states. According to its amount, investors often decide in which country they will do business, respectively place their investments. Taxes are not only an important source of revenues for public budgets, but the applicable tax policy is an important factor for economic growth and can influence the competitiveness of the economy. Because the competitiveness can be studied from different aspects - some of them are presented in this contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tax evasion and tax avoidance distort competition, deform business environment and influence efficiency of taxation. The states may affect the size of shadow economy and thus the amount of tax evasion by their activity as well as by the harmonization of tax legislative at international level. The paper investigates a statistical dependence concerning the relationship of the shadow economy and tax evasion. It is estimated that more than three-quarters of total tax revenue loss in the EU accounts for tax evasion linked to the existence of the shadow economy. Increased use of electronic payments and limiting cash transactions could eliminate the size of shadow economy and amount of tax evasion. This fact confirms statistical dependence between the number of electronic transactions per capita and the size of the shadow economy. Intensifying fight against tax evasion and efficient tax collection are therefore the key factors to ensuring a long-term sustainability of public finances in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]