Taxing Ourselves: A Citizen's Guide to the Debate over Taxes (MIT Press)

The new edition of a popular guide to the key issues in tax reform, presented in a clear, nontechnical, and unbiased way. To follow the debate over tax reform, the interested citizen is often forced to choose between misleading sound bites and academic treatises. Taxing Ourselves bridges the gap between the oversimplified and the arcane, presenting the key issues clearly and without a political agenda. Tax policy experts Joel Slemrod and Jon Bakija lay out in accessible language what is known and not known about how taxes affect the economy and offer guidelines for evaluating tax systems―both the current tax system and proposals to reform it. This fifth edition has been extensively revised to incorporate the latest data, empirical evidence, and tax law. It offers new material on recent tax reform proposals, expanded coverage of international tax issues, and the latest enforcement initiatives. Offering historical perspectives, outlining the basic criteria by which tax policy should be judged (fairness, economic impact, enforceability), examining proposals for both radical change (replacement of the income tax with a flat tax or consumption tax) and incremental changes to the current system, and concluding with a voter's guide, the book provides readers with enough background to make informed judgments about how we should tax ourselves. Praise for earlier editions “An excellent book.” ―Jeff Medrick, New York Times “A fair-minded exposition of a politically loaded subject.” ―Kirkus Reviews To Follow The Debate Over Tax Reform, The Interested Citizen Is Often Forced To Choose Between Misleading Sound Bites And Academic Treatises. Taxing Ourselves Bridges The Gap Between The Oversimplified And The Arcane, Presenting The Key Issues Clearly And Without A Political Agenda. Tax Policy Experts Joel Slemrod And Jon Bakija Lay Out In Accessible Language What Is Known And Not Known About How Taxes Affect The Economy And Offer Guidelines For Evaluating Tax Systems -- Both The Current Tax System And Proposals To Reform It. This Fifth Edition Has Been Extensively Revised To Incorporate The Latest Data, Empirical Evidence, And Tax Law. It Offers New Material On Recent Tax Reform Proposals, Expanded Coverage Of International Tax Issues, And The Latest Enforcement Initiatives. Offering Historical Perspectives, Outlining The Basic Criteria By Which Tax Policy Should Be Judged (fairness, Economic Impact, Enforceability), Examining Proposals For Both Radical Change (replacement Of The Income Tax With A Flat Tax Or Consumption Tax) And Incremental Changes To The Current System, And Concluding With A Voter's Guide, The Book Provides Readers With Enough Background To Make Informed Judgments About How We Should Tax Ourselves.praise For Earlier Editionsan Excellent Book. -- Jeff Medrick, New York Timesa Fair-minded Exposition Of A Politically Loaded Subject. -- Kirkus Reviews, Reviewing A Previous Edition Or Volume "To follow the debate over tax reform, the interested citizen is often forced to choose between misleading sound bites and academic treatises. [This book] bridges the gap between the oversimplified and the arcane, presenting the key issues clearly and without a political agenda. [The authors lay out] what is known and not known about how taxes affect the economy and offer guidelines for evaluating tax systems -- both the current tax system and proposals to reform it. This fifth edition has been extensively revised to incorporate the latest data, empirical evidence, and tax law. It offers new material on recent tax reform proposals, expanded coverage of international tax issues, and the latest enforcement initiatives. Offering historical perspectives, outlining the basic criteria by which tax policy should be judged (fairness, economic impact, enforceability), examining proposals for both radical change (replacement of the income tax with a flat tax or consumption tax) and incremental changes to the current system, and concluding with a voter's guide, the book provides readers with enough background to make informed judgments about how we should tax ourselves."-- Back cover Preface Introduction An overview of the U.S. tax system Fairness Taxes and economic prosperity Simplicity and enforceability Elements of fundamental reform Consumption tax alternatives Starting from here A voter's guide to the tax policy debate Notes References Index.