From the October 1999 issue
(Page 3 of 3)
Frank might respond that taxing everyone in a given cohort the same will leave them in position to compete on equal grounds. Thus progressive taxation would leave less money available for all competitors, which would be a positive good for Frank to the extent that consumption is bad. That reply would miss the force of the objection. At all levels of income, less income would enable less consumption competition. Unless Frank can provide a good reason why competition among the superwealthy is worse than that among those with moderate incomes, he no longer has a good theoretical basis for progressive taxation.
By overlooking this dramatic implication of the relative position argument, Hirshleifer misses an opportunity to put Frank's thesis to good use.
Mark Chenoweth
Chicago, IL
mschenow@midway.uchicago.edu
Reason needs your support. Please donate today!
Try Reason's award-winning print edition today! Your first issue is FREE if you are not completely satisfied.
(310) 367-6109
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245
Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment or disable your ability to comment for any reason at any time.
nfl jerseys|11.15.10 @ 2:17AM|#
mcjfhxrt