The Decline and Fall? of the Income Tax

by Michael J. Graetz

A former Treasury department official offers an insider's chronicle of the recent history of the tax system, shows how politicians have used it for their own ends, and evaluates the effects of current... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393040615
• ISBN13: 9780393040616
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 323 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A nice, if opinionated, introduction

Graetz's book is an easy read, exposing the policy issues that underlie the structure of the federal income tax in a way that makes tax theory accessible to the lay reader. Be aware, however, that Graetz has strongly held beliefs on contested issues in tax theory, so the book can present open controversies as if they were closed.

Finally, an easy and accurate tax policy book

Graetz actually manages to be both understandable and accurate as he describes the current problems with the income tax code. He also explains cogently why most of those problems would not go away with a "flat tax" or most of the other proposals in Washington. He concludes with his own proposal, which includes a sales tax and an elimination of income taxes on all but the wealthy. An excellent read, loaded with funny stories.