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Taxing Choice: The Predatory Politics of Fiscal Discrinamtion (Book/ Paperback)

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So-called "sin taxes" - he taxing of certain products, like alcohol and tobacco, that are deemed to be "politically incorrect" - have long been a favorite way for politicians to fund programs benefiting special interest groups. But this concept has been applied to such "sinful" products as soft drinks, margarine, telephone calls, airline tickets, and even fishing gear. What is the true record of this selective, often punitive, approach to taxation?

Taxing Choice shows that the record of "sin taxes" has been anything but successful, as they have hindered economic progress and failed to deliver the promised social benefits. In addition, the costs of selective taxation fall disproportionately on lower income groups while politically powerful special interest groups benefit. "Sin taxes" also foster political corruption and self-serving, largely unaccountable bureaucracies. Furthermore, policies discriminating against certain products and behaviors through tax policy represent ominous trends that can easily be extended into other areas of life. If tobacco and alcohol are considered "dangerous" and subject to discriminatory taxation, what is to prevent the same taxes from being applied against fatty foods, sunbathing, or even obesity?

Nineteen distinguished scholars analyze the history, applications, and results of "sin taxes" in this volume. This is a timely and far-reaching book of great interest to economists, policy makers, historians, sociologists - or anyone who pays taxes!

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