To sort out the pros and cons of using the tax system to enact social policy goals, in particular to help low-income families, the Urban Institute convened a tax policy forum in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2001. The discussion revealed that using the tax system as a social policy tool is a...
The 2001 tax act phases out the estate tax over nine years, before reinstating it in year 10. That untenable plan guarantees that the estate tax will be revisited soon. This policy brief summarizes the economic effects of the estate tax and the proposed changes. The estate tax makes the tax...
Despite the generosity of Americans most of the needs of individuals are not met through transfers made through charities; thus, charities must choose whom they'll serve.
Even before the ruins of the World Trade Towers stop smoldering, Congressional leaders are quietly planning to revive their favorite scheme to boost the economy—a $20 billion plus cut in capital gains taxes, possibly as an add-on to minimum wage legislation. Proponents, led by Senate Minority...
For a variety of reasons, the current social security system does an increasingly weaker job over time in allocating its additional revenues to providing protection against poverty in old-age.
Depreciation policy seems to be back on the table for the first time since the mid-1980s, so it's again timely to ask: What are the best depreciation policies for the nation?
[Indianapolis Star] Women Democratic senators recently sent President Bush a letter decrying his proposal to divert some payroll taxes into individual accounts, on the grounds that women would take a financial beating. Although many feminist groups hold this view, little empirical...
The issuance of an interim report by the Social Security Commission sparked a firestorm. Nonetheless, the report may be "under-interpreted" for what it suggests about dealing with the problems of the poor and "over-interpreted" for what it says about the reforms it will finally propose. The best...
Social Policy and the Tax System
To sort out the pros and cons of using the tax system to enact social policy goals, in particular to help low-income families, the Urban Institute convened a tax policy forum in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2001. The discussion revealed that using the tax system as a social policy tool is a...
Charities and Disaster Relief
This brief focuses on using public finance principles to allocate relief funds.
The Estate Tax Is Down, But Not Out
The 2001 tax act phases out the estate tax over nine years, before reinstating it in year 10. That untenable plan guarantees that the estate tax will be revisited soon. This policy brief summarizes the economic effects of the estate tax and the proposed changes. The estate tax makes the tax...
Charities and Relief
Despite the generosity of Americans most of the needs of individuals are not met through transfers made through charities; thus, charities must choose whom they'll serve.
The Cost of Action for Its Own Sake
Be wary of quick fixes for the nation's economic problems, for they just may make things worse.
The Answer Isn't Capital Gains
Even before the ruins of the World Trade Towers stop smoldering, Congressional leaders are quietly planning to revive their favorite scheme to boost the economy—a $20 billion plus cut in capital gains taxes, possibly as an add-on to minimum wage legislation. Proponents, led by Senate Minority...
Limitations of the Individual Account Debate
For a variety of reasons, the current social security system does an increasingly weaker job over time in allocating its additional revenues to providing protection against poverty in old-age.
Is it Time to Rationalize Depreciation Policy?
Depreciation policy seems to be back on the table for the first time since the mid-1980s, so it's again timely to ask: What are the best depreciation policies for the nation?
How Women Fare in Social Security Reform
[Indianapolis Star] Women Democratic senators recently sent President Bush a letter decrying his proposal to divert some payroll taxes into individual accounts, on the grounds that women would take a financial beating. Although many feminist groups hold this view, little empirical...
Withholding Judgment on the Social Security Commission Report
The issuance of an interim report by the Social Security Commission sparked a firestorm. Nonetheless, the report may be "under-interpreted" for what it suggests about dealing with the problems of the poor and "over-interpreted" for what it says about the reforms it will finally propose. The best...