Spreading the Wealth Around: Reflections Inspired by Joe the Plumber
View/ Open
Author
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1057/eej.2010.22Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Mankiw, N Gregory. 2010. “Spreading the Wealth Around: Reflections Inspired by Joe the Plumber.” Eastern Economic Journal 36 (3) (June): 285–298. doi:10.1057/eej.2010.22.Abstract
This essay discusses the policy debate concerning optimal taxation and the distribution of income. It begins with a brief overview of trends in income inequality, the leading hypothesis to explain these trends, and the distribution of the tax burden. It then considers the normative question of how the tax system should be designed. The conventional utilitarian framework is found to be wanting, as it leads to prescriptions that conflict with many individuals’ moral intuitions. The essay then explores an alternative normative framework, dubbed the Just Deserts Theory, according to which an individual’s compensation should reflect his or her social contribution.Other Sources
http://www.nber.org/papers/w15846Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#OAPCitable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34310083
Collections
- FAS Scholarly Articles [18292]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)