What Does a Fair Tax Code Look Like?

Published May 16, 2023

Nordic countries are often portrayed as having fairer tax laws than the ones in America. However, their top marginal tax rate kicks in at much lower levels of income than in the United States. The use of relative terms like “fairness” muddies the discourse on taxes, leading people to reject absolutely efficient gains that they perceive as unfair—even though they may make everyone better off.

Discussion Question:

  1. After seeing the video, do you think America’s tax laws are more or less “fair” than the tax laws in Nordic countries?
  2. Is a flat tax more or less fair than a progressive tax? Why?

Additional Resources:

  • Watch Tyler Goodspeed at the 2022 Fall SIEPR Policy Forum: Tax on Individuals Equity and Efficiency, on YouTube. Available here.
  • Watch “Setting the Record Straight on Wealth Inequality,” with Tyler Goodspeed on PolicyEd. Available here.
  • Read “Why scrapping the corporation tax rise is a no-brainer,” by Tyler Goodspeed via CapX. Available here.

Cast

Tyler Goodspeed

Tyler Goodspeed

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