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Research report

"Logical Limits" of Tax Bill Arguments

C. Eugene Steuerle
August 2, 1999
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Abstract

Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines the merits of a tax cut, and finds: Tax cuts are a valid means of achieving smaller government, but they only work if expenditures somehow follow a similar path, especially in the long-term. By the same token, not all tax cuts are bad nor are all spending increases bad. As for progressivity, there are valid arguments to be made in favor of a progressive system, but not every change must add to overall progressivity. Neither can the supply-side argument for caring about only the top tax rates always hold up unless one really favors head taxes over all other forms of taxation.

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Federal Budget and Economy Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms
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Meet the Experts

  • C. Eugene Steuerle
    Institute Fellow and Richard B. Fisher Chair
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