Doctoral Research in Taxation.

Abstract The article presents abstracts of various doctoral research papers on taxation. The paper Dividend Policy and the 1986 Tax Reform Act by Kevin Michael Casey focuses on the 1986 Tax Reform Act (TRA), which eliminated much of the preferential treatment afforded capital gains. Tax treatment of private investor income, whether from capital gains or dividends, became more balanced with TRA's passage. Therefore, investor demand for type of income distribution should change as a result of TRA. The paper Valuation of Closely Held Companies for Estate, Gift and Income Tax Purposes: Evidence of Minority and Lack of Marketability Discounts by Melanie J. Earles highlights that discounts for minority interest and lack of marketability are critical in reducing transferred interests of closely held companies for estate, gift, and income tax purposes. The primary purpose of the study is to contribute to the evidence regarding the determination of these two discounts in the valuation of closely held businesses.