Should Tax Reform Level the Playing Field? / Lawrence H. Summers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Summers, Lawrence H.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w2132.

NBER working paper series no. w2132

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Income tax--United States.

Income tax.

Taxation--Economic aspects.

Taxation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 1987.

Cambridge, Mass. : National Bureau of Economic Research, 1987.

Summary:

While frequently invoked, the level playing field ideal and its practical embodiment in tax legislation has received relatively little analysis. This paper examines the economic arguments surrounding the level playing field doctrine. I conclude that leveling the playing field is an issue of little economic importance and that efforts to level the playing field like those recently enacted are likely to create more important nonneutralities than those they eliminate. They may however contribute to the perceived fairness of the tax system.

Notes:

Print version record

1987.