Skip to main content

Tax Reform Then and Now

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Variations in Economic Analysis
  • 618 Accesses

Abstract

The U.S. tax structure has been reformed and simplified many times in the last 30 years but the need for reform and simplification remains greater than ever. (For a detailed summary of recent tax acts see C.E. Steuerle, 1992, 2004). Should the tax structure be built on a foundation of comprehensive income or on comprehensive consumption? (Examples of excellent tax reform analysis are Bradford, 1984 and Aaron and Gale, 1996.) Should wealth transfer taxes be inheritance taxes, estate taxes or repealed entirely? Should payroll taxes apply to all earned income or should the tax base be capped? These are all tax issues upon which reasonable people can differ. Unanimity of thought is not expected. But there is at least one area of tax reform upon which even those of opposing economic philosophies can agree.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aaron, H. & Gale, W. (1996). Economic Effects of Fundamental Tax Reform, The Brookings Institution, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford, D. (1984). Blueprints for Basic Tax Reform, 2, Tax Analysts, Arlington, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canada (1966). The Report Commission on Taxation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, I. & Fisher, H. (1942). Constructive Income Taxation: A Proposal for Reform. Harper and Brothers, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaldor, H. (1955). An Expenditure Tax, Allen and Unwin, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pechman, J.A. (1987). Federal Tax Policy, The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, H. (2005). Public Finance, 7, McGraw Hill-Irwin, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, E. & Aronson, J.R. (1972). “How to Integrate Corporate and Personal Income Taxation,” Journal of Finance, December, 27(5).

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, H. (1938). Personal Income Taxation, University of Chicago Press, Chicogo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steuerle, C.E. (1992). The Tax Decade, The Urban Institute Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steuerle, C.E. (2004). Contemporary Tax Policy, The Urban Institute Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Martindale Center for the Study of Private Enterprise, Lehigh University

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Aronson, J.R. (2008). Tax Reform Then and Now. In: Aronson, J., Parmet, H., Thornton, R. (eds) Variations in Economic Analysis. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1182-7_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1182-7_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1181-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1182-7

  • eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics