The debates about the what, who, and how of tax policy are at the core of politics, policy, and economics. The Economics of Tax Policy provides an accessible overview of recent research in the economics of taxation.

Alan Auerbach is the Robert D. Burch Professor of Economics and Law and Director of the Robert D. Burch Center for Tax Policy and Public Finance at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Joint Committee on Taxation (1992).
Kent Smetters is the Boettner Chair Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previous policy positions include the Congressional Budget Office (1995 to 1998) as well as Economics Policy Coordinator (Deputy Assistant Secretary) for the United States Treasury (2001-2002).

• Contents


• 1. Tax Reform in a Changing Economy


• Alan Auerbach and Kent Smetters


• 2. Effects of Income Tax Changes on Economic Growth


• William Gale and Andrew Samwick


• Commentary


• Kevin Hassett


• 3. Environmental Taxation


• Roberton C. Williams Iii


• Commentary


• Don Fullerton


• 4. Tax Compliance and Enforcement: An Overview of New Research and Its Policy Implications


• Joel Slemrod


• Commentary


• David Weisbach


• 5. Economic and Distributional Effects of Tax Expenditure Limits


• Len Burman, Eric Toder, Daniel Berger, and Jeffrey Rohaly


• Commentary


• Louis Kaplow


• 6. Tax Benefits for College Attendance


• Susan Dynarski and Judith Scott-Clayton


• Commentary


• David Figlio


• 7. Tax Policy toward Low-Income Families


• Hilary Hoynes and Jesse Rothstein


• Commentary


• Diane Schanzenbach


• 8. The Economics of Corporate and Business Tax Reform


• Dhammika Dharmapala


• Commentary


• Rosanne Altshuler


• 9. U.S. Capital Gains and Estate Taxation: A Status Report and Directions for a Reform


• Wojciech Kopczuk


• Commentary


• James Poterba


• 10. Tax Policy for Retirement Savings


• John Friedman


• Commentary


• Brigitte Madrian


• 11. Fundamental Tax Reform: A Comparison of Three Options


• Alan D. Viard


• Commentary


• James Hines