Taxes and the Economy

The research below explores the economics of tax policy and the intellectual underpinnings of our efforts to quantify tax changes using our dynamic Taxes and Growth (TAG) macroeconomic model.

Featured Articles

April 11, 2018 October 17, 2023

The Tax Foundation’s Taxes and Growth Model

In an attempt to provide a realistic, data-driven analysis of federal tax policy, the Tax Foundation has developed a General Equilibrium Model to simulate the effects of tax policies on the economy and on government revenues and budgets.

Why dynamic scoring still matters dynamic tax modeling and difference between static and dynamic scoring

January 12, 2023 January 4, 2024

Three Reasons Why Dynamic Scoring Still Matters

Lawmakers should use the most comprehensive analytical tools available to them—like dynamic scoring—to make informed decisions about policy changes.

December 18, 2012 October 12, 2023

What Is the Evidence on Taxes and Growth?

24 min read

corporate income tax

October 24, 2017 October 17, 2023

Labor Bears Much of the Cost of the Corporate Tax

Recent empirical evidence shows that workers bear upwards of 70 percent of the corporate income tax burden, much more than popular tax models claim, which make errors in how they account for super-normal returns and the openness of our economy.

American Rescue Plan state tax cuts, American Rescue Plan tax cuts State Unemployment Compensation Trust Funds, Elizabeth Warren wealth tax, Some tax hikes are more damaging than others, according to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and new Tax Foundation economic modeling.

March 26, 2021 October 12, 2023

Congressional Budget Office and Tax Foundation Modeling Show That Some Tax Hikes Are More Damaging Than Others

Some tax hikes are more damaging than others, according to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and new Tax Foundation economic modeling.

inflation tax adjustments include policies to combat inflation by indexing for inflation and adjusting for inflation

August 14, 2009 October 17, 2023

The Excess Burden of Taxes and the Economic Cost of High Tax Rates

3 min read

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Donald Trump Tax Plan 2024 Trump Tax Proposals and Tariff Ideas Trump Tax Reform

July 10, 2024 July 16, 2024

Trump’s Tax and Tariff Ideas: Details & Analysis

A new trade war could wipe out the benefits of pro-growth tax reform.

July 9, 2024

Tax Cuts vs. Tax Reform

Tax cuts vs. tax reform: what’s the real difference, and why does it matter?

JCT Report Shows How Corporate Tax Breaks Have Expanded, Analysis of JCT Corporate Tax Expenditures

January 18, 2024 January 17, 2024

JCT Report Shows How Corporate Tax Breaks Have Expanded

Lawmakers should prioritize creating a tax system that supports investment more broadly rather than subsidizing specific industries and allowing broad, neutral pro-investment provisions to expire.

US Consumption Tax vs Income Tax Reform: Details & Analysis

October 12, 2023 October 12, 2023

How Taxing Consumption Would Improve Long-Term Opportunity and Well-Being for Families and Children

Income taxes impose steeper economic costs, and often steeper administrative and compliance costs, than consumption taxes. Moving to a consumption tax would end the tax bias against saving and investment and provide an opportunity to greatly simplify anti-poverty programs embedded in the tax code.

Gross income definition or gross pay definition TaxEDU Labor Share of Net Income is Within Its Historical Range President Biden Made in America Tax Plan and American Jobs Plan

September 27, 2023 October 17, 2023

Labor Share of Net Income is Within Its Historical Range

As increased political attention focuses on the state of the American worker, expect to see a resurgence of the argument that the labor share of income is in decline.

Tax Foundation experts analyze ways to rein in the national debt, including US debt and deficits and federal budget and US spending and taxes

September 12, 2023 October 10, 2023

How to Rein in the National Debt

Now is the time for lawmakers to focus on long-term fiscal sustainability, as further delay will only make an eventual fiscal reckoning that much harder and more painful. Congressional leaders should follow through on convening a fiscal commission to deal with the long-term budgetary challenges facing the country.

Permanent expensing machinery equipment 100 percent expensing bonus depreciation

May 30, 2023 October 12, 2023

Expensing of Machinery and Equipment Should Be Made Permanent

Making expensing permanent is especially important now, when the economy is threatened with a recession and inflation remains high.

Design Matters When Raising Taxes to Reduce the Deficit and Stabilize the Debt-to-GDP ratio US debt taxes deficits Gross Domestic Product GDP

May 16, 2023 October 12, 2023

Design Matters When Raising Taxes to Reduce the Deficit and Stabilize the Debt

Rather than continue down the path of growing debt, lawmakers should craft a comprehensive solution. International experience cautions against tax-based fiscal consolidations, but modest tax increases may be part of a successful debt reduction package.

Details and Analysis of Canceling the Scheduled Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Business Tax Increases and tax changes including expirations

May 8, 2023 October 12, 2023

Does the Optimal Tax System Exist?

While research on optimal taxation often focuses on the pure economic implications, it rarely considers cultural and societal differences that can lead to very different outcomes when trying to implement an optimal tax system.

Carbon Taxes in Theory and Practice including US carbon tax case studies with British Columbia Canada carbon tax, UK carbon tax, and Sweden carbon tax revenue recycling reforms

May 2, 2023 February 23, 2024

Carbon Taxes in Theory and Practice

In our latest report, we consider several theoretical arguments for carbon taxes and the evidence from carbon taxes implemented around the world related to emissions, economic growth, distribution and revenue recycling options, other environmental taxes, green subsidies, and environmental regulations.

unlocking global growth and role of taxation in promoting economic growth Tax Conference

April 21, 2023 January 9, 2024

How to Unlock Global Growth: The Role of Taxation

Our recent policy conference brought together academics and political leaders to present research on some of the most pressing issues in global tax policy and to discuss solutions that can unlock genuine global growth.

Why dynamic scoring still matters dynamic tax modeling and difference between static and dynamic scoring

January 12, 2023 January 4, 2024

Three Reasons Why Dynamic Scoring Still Matters

Lawmakers should use the most comprehensive analytical tools available to them—like dynamic scoring—to make informed decisions about policy changes.

UK tax plan Rishi Sunak tax plan

December 1, 2022 October 12, 2023

A Tale of Two Tax Plans in the United Kingdom

History is clear. Lowering budget deficits via spending restraint frees resources for additional private output and jobs. Lowering them by raising taxes on business investment and labor services makes it harder to dis-inflate without a recession.

Child Tax Credit reform options and analysis romney family <a href=security act child poverty taxes and inflation" width="300" height="200" />

November 10, 2022 October 12, 2023

Difficult Trade-Offs Make Policy Consensus on Child Tax Credit Elusive

As we near this year’s “lame duck” session of Congress, there has been renewed interest in reforming the child tax credit as part of a tax deal. Our new analysis highlights the trade-offs that policymakers will face

Steve entin legacy of indexing tax rates to inflation President reagan tax cuts legislation dynamic scoring tax model tax foundation

September 12, 2022 April 17, 2024

Ensuring Tax Rates Don’t Rise with Inflation

If ever there was a paycheck protection program, defending people from bracket creep may be the most important one ever designed.

2022 state income tax rates and brackets 2022 state individual income tax rates and brackets data map

June 30, 2022 February 13, 2024

Marginal Tax Rates and Economic Opportunity

Research has shown that spikes in tax rates can act as barriers to upward mobility. High marginal tax rates might directly influence the decisions workers make about accepting a raise, working additional hours, or whether they might remain on government benefits.

tax lesson plan Effect of income tax changes on economic growth income taxes economy

June 14, 2022 October 17, 2023

The Impact of Individual Income Tax Changes on Economic Growth

Research almost invariably shows a negative relationship between income tax rates and gross domestic product (GDP). Cuts to marginal tax rates are highly correlated with decreases in the unemployment rate.

Businesses Fund Majority of US Private R&D and Public R&D Investment Research and Development funding R&D funding

May 16, 2022 October 12, 2023

Public and Private R&D Are Complements, Not Substitutes

5 min read

Inflation tax basics inflation definition inflation definition what is inflation what causes inflation tax code US taxes inflation time value of money money and stocks, Capital Gains Indexing for Inflation

Inflation

Who bears the burden of corporate taxes? Learn more about who bears the burden of the corporate income tax (who actually pays corporate taxes) and the corporate tax burden

June 10, 2021 October 17, 2023

Who Bears the Burden of Corporation Taxation? A Review of Recent Evidence

The Biden administration has pledged to not raise taxes on anyone earning less than $400,000 a year. However, the administration’s corporate tax proposals would likely violate that pledge, given that corporations are comprised of people who also might earn less than $400,000.

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Since 1937, our principled research, insightful analysis, and engaged experts have informed smarter tax policy in the U.S. and internationally. For over 80 years, our mission has remained the same: to improve lives through tax policies that lead to greater economic growth and opportunity.

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