Tax Politics and Policy Politics of American Public Policy Series

Taxes are an inescapable part of life. They are perhaps the most economically consequential aspect of the relationship between individuals and their government. Understanding tax development and implementation, not to mention the political forces involved, is critical to fully appreciating and critiquing that relationship.

Tax Politics and Policy offers a comprehensive survey of taxation in the United States. It explores competing theories of taxation?s role in civil society; investigates the evolution and impact of taxes on income, consumption, and assets; and highlights the role of interest groups in tax policy. This is the first book to include a separate look at "sin" taxes on tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and sugar. The book concludes with a look at tax reform ideas, both old and new.

This book is written for a broad audience?from upper-level undergraduates to graduate students in public policy, public administration, political science, economics, and related fields?and anyone else that has ever paid taxes.

About the Author

Part 1: Theoretical Foundations

Chapter 1: Philosophical and Constitutional Origins of Tax Policy in the United States

Chapter 2: Spirit, Content, and Impact: Principles of Tax Policy Structure and Evaluation

Part 2: Taxes on Income

Chapter 3: Taxing Individual Income: Misunderstood, but Seldom Forgotten

Chapter 4: Taxing Corporate Income: Are They People, Too?

Part 3: Taxes on Consumption

Chapter 5: Taxing Everyday Consumption: Tariffs, Excises, and Sales Taxes

Chapter 6: Taxing Sinful Consumption: Tobacco, Alcohol, Marijuana, and Sugar

Part 4: Taxes on Assets

Chapter 7: Taxing Land and Property: Hitting You Where You Live

Chapter 8: Taxing Gifts, Estates, and Inheritances: Death and Taxes

Part 5: The Way Forward

Chapter 9: Tax Reform: Ideas without Action

Chapter 10: Reflections

Index

Michael Thom is an assistant professor at the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy, USA. He holds a PhD in political science, with emphases on public policy and American politics, from Michigan State University, USA. Michael’s research interests include public finance and government regulation. His work has appeared in Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, American Politics Research, State and Local Government Review, and Research and Politics.