State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective (Urban Institute Press)

State tax systems are in trouble. Revenue collecting methods developed more than 70 years ago are straining to deal with 21st century economies. Globalization and e-commerce are changing the way people work and purchase goods; devolution has steadily shifted responsibility from the federal government to the states; tax incentives have become the weapon of choice in the battle to attract business investment. All of this, in an environment where antitax messages have become a staple of political campaigns, has made creating tax policy more challenging than ever before. In the updated third edition of State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective, David Brunori analyzes these and other critical challenges facing state governments. He identifies the important issues and examines possible solutions in formulating and implementing state tax policy. Brunori (public policy, George Washington U.) explores the issues faced by politicians when developing and implementing state tax policy in the United States and offers his own suggestions on possible solutions. Individual chapters address the basic principles of classic tax policy, economic development and interstate tax competition, the political interests that influence tax policymaking, the political issues associated with specific types of taxes, sales and use tax, personal income tax, corporate income tax, other tax categories, and nontax revenue sources. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) The importance of state taxation Principles of sound tax policy Interstate competition for economic development The politics of state taxation Sales and use taxes State personal income taxes Corporate income taxes Other state taxes Other sources of state revenue Policy recommendations for state policymakers.