Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle discusses the state of fiscal policy. He notes that the conventional wisdom is that politicians have tired of thinking about fine-tuning the economy through tax and expenditure policy, while economists often argue that the nation's macroeconomic position should be...
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,...
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines whether short-run surpluses ought to be spent before they are achieved, and whether longer-run surpluses ought to be spent if the economy continues to grow at a faster-than-expected rate - his answer to both issues is "no."
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...
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.
Just What Do Nonprofits Provide?
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines the public value of nonprofit hospitals.
Fiscal Policy: Alive and Well
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle discusses the state of fiscal policy. He notes that the conventional wisdom is that politicians have tired of thinking about fine-tuning the economy through tax and expenditure policy, while economists often argue that the nation's macroeconomic position should be...
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,...
Should We Spend Budget Surpluses Even Before They Occur?
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle examines whether short-run surpluses ought to be spent before they are achieved, and whether longer-run surpluses ought to be spent if the economy continues to grow at a faster-than-expected rate - his answer to both issues is "no."
Straying from Tax Policy Principles
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle discusses the challenges and necessity of following a set of principles in developing optimal tax policy.
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.