Previous theoretical analyses of the capital gains tax have suggested that investors have considerable opportunity to avoid the tax. Yet, past empirical work found little evidence of such activity. Though confirming past findings that avoidance of tax on realized capital gains is not prevalent,...
The Congressional leadership that crafted the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 wants the tax system to be so simple that taxpayers can fill out a tax form on a postcard. Judging by some of the choices they made in the new law (with lots of help from the President), they had in mind a postcard the...
Because Social Security spends tax collections almost immediately, rather than putting them aside to fund future retirement costs, it is believed by many to reduce net national saving at a time when other private and public saving are considered too low. This low savings rate coincides with a...
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle explains how raising the rate of contribution to private accounts by a significant amount, without a substantial increase in mandates or taxes might help clarify the Social Security privatization debate.
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle comments on Social Security privatization options, noting that none say much of anything about the current private pension system, its advantages and limitations, nor about the ways that new, mandated, private accounts would be integrated with private accounts...
Systematic Thinking About Subsidies for Child Care (Part 1 of 3)
This column represents the first in a series that attempts to think systematically about tax and expenditure policy directed toward child care.
Capital Gains Taxation and Tax Avoidance
Previous theoretical analyses of the capital gains tax have suggested that investors have considerable opportunity to avoid the tax. Yet, past empirical work found little evidence of such activity. Though confirming past findings that avoidance of tax on realized capital gains is not prevalent,...
Big, Big Postcard
The Congressional leadership that crafted the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 wants the tax system to be so simple that taxpayers can fill out a tax form on a postcard. Judging by some of the choices they made in the new law (with lots of help from the President), they had in mind a postcard the...
What Are Those Tax Forms Going to Look Like?
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle paints a picture of future complexity offered by new tax breaks.
Taxing the Elderly on Their Medicare Benefits
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines prospects for Medicare reform.
Cheating the Earned Income Tax Credit
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle suggests that problems facing the Earned Income Tax Credit should not attempted to be solved in isolation.
Child Credits: Opportunity at the Door
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle suggests modifications to the child credit that could improve tax, health, and welfare policy.
Mandated Saving and the Fallacy of Aggregation
Because Social Security spends tax collections almost immediately, rather than putting them aside to fund future retirement costs, it is believed by many to reduce net national saving at a time when other private and public saving are considered too low. This low savings rate coincides with a...
Privatizing Social Security: A Third Option (Part 2 of 2)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle explains how raising the rate of contribution to private accounts by a significant amount, without a substantial increase in mandates or taxes might help clarify the Social Security privatization debate.
Privatizing Social Security: A Third Option (Part 1 of 2)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle comments on Social Security privatization options, noting that none say much of anything about the current private pension system, its advantages and limitations, nor about the ways that new, mandated, private accounts would be integrated with private accounts...