Tax Rates: Economic Effects & Implications

Income tax rates have been at the centre of recent policy debates over taxes. Some policy-makers have argued that raising tax rates, especially on higher income taxpayers, to increase tax revenues is part of the solution for long-term debt reduction. For example, the Senate recently passed the Middle Class Tax Cut, which would allow the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts to expire for taxpayers with income over $250,000. The Senate recently considered legislation, the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012, that would implement the Buffett rule by raising the tax rate on millionaires. Other recent budget and deficit reduction proposals would reduce tax rates. This book examines individual income tax rates since 1945 in relation to these arguments and seeks to establish what, if any, relationship exists between the top tax rates and economic growth, using statistical analysis.