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Assorted links
1. Bob Frank lectures at Google
2. The Guardian reviews Discover Your Inner Economist, here; I liked the part when he called it "extraordinary."
3. Markets in everything: wedding apparel, never worn, via Henry Farrell.
4. Why Roberto Bolaño matters
5. What's wrong with the fair tax? -- Addendum: Bartlett's piecei s now ungated here.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on August 25, 2007 at 03:36 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink
Comments
I find polemic fair-tax proponents like Boortz and polemic fair-tax opponents like Bartlett equally insufferable. Yes, the proponents are spinning for their cause when they advertise the inclusive rate. But the opponents are equally spinning for theirs when they pounce on this fact as if it were outright fraud. An honest commentator would call out the distinction and make clear that there are good reasons for citing the exclusive rate (because that is how sales taxes are usually expressed) and for citing the inclusive rate (because that is what can be directly compared to an income tax rate).
Posted by: David Wright at Aug 26, 2007 1:40:27 AM
Bartlett's piece against the FairTax is a hit piece that distorts reality more than anything else. He even goes so far as to say that the FairTax was invented by scientologists - it was not: it is the most researched piece of tax legislation ever proposed, and was devised by the center for Fair Taxation (and the best of many proposals they researched). While there are legitimate concerns and critiques to be had about the FairTax (such as double taxation), the old 30% vs. 23% is one that has been said over and over again, and that the FairTax goes over on their website, and prominently mentions in the book. Those who want to critique the FairTax should first bother to read about it.
Posted by: taoist at Aug 26, 2007 12:13:17 PM
Prices will be relatively unchanged since the embedded taxes will be taken out, not to mention the fact that my paycheck will go up by 30%. His housing argument is also weak. Assuming people decide not to build as many new houses due to the tax, the prices of existing homes will increase and consumption will shift to a different industry. The composition of the economy will change, but growth won't be affected.
I don't like the "fair" part of the tax though. Just pick the lowest tax possible, and let welfare payments help the poor. Sending everyone a check is a big step in the direction of an even bigger welfare state.
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Posted by: China tour at Nov 27, 2007 2:22:32 AM
Sorry for any crossposts.
Bruce Bartlett's critique of the FairTax is way off base!
Here's our response to BB.
http://www.beaconhill.org/FairTax2008/TuerckTaxNotes080204.pdf
Posted by: Frank Conte at Feb 11, 2008 10:15:44 AM
Posted by: 翻译公司 at Feb 13, 2008 10:14:14 AM
