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Why Do the Public Oppose Inheritance Taxes?

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Philosophical Explorations of Justice and Taxation

Part of the book series: Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice ((IUSGENT,volume 40))

Abstract

Common wisdom supposes that inheritance taxes are very unpopular among the public. This public opposition seems puzzling as these taxes typically apply to a minority of estates. Usual explanations for this are that people are poorly informed about the extent of these taxes or that there is a lack of a compelling moral case for such taxes. This chapter argues that current approaches do not go far enough. It suggests public attitudes to inheritance taxes are better understood as a specific case of discontent with wider taxes. Addressing this means tackling a disconnection the public feel over the taxes they pay as well as exploring public reactions to different combinations of taxes. Greater public support for inheritance taxes is important for building public compliance with these taxes as well as improving the chances for policy reform.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Sciences, Open University, Walton Hall, MK7 6AA, Milton Keynes, UK

    Rajiv Prabhakar

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  1. Rajiv Prabhakar
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Correspondence to Rajiv Prabhakar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Helmut P. Gaisbauer

  2. Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Gottfried Schweiger

  3. Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Clemens Sedmak

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Prabhakar, R. (2015). Why Do the Public Oppose Inheritance Taxes?. In: Gaisbauer, H., Schweiger, G., Sedmak, C. (eds) Philosophical Explorations of Justice and Taxation. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 40. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13458-1_10

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