3 ms·
Taxes are famously beyond partisan influences; lots of studies demonstrate this (see Imbeau et al for a review). It's a bit early to say on Covid lockdowns, but
by ContrarianBrit 5y ago
Taxes are famously beyond partisan influences; lots of studies demonstrate this (see Imbeau et al for a review). It's a bit early to say on Covid lockdowns, but this also seems to be the case. On abortion/guns, Democrats may have very different positions than Republicans, but what degree of policy change have they secured?
- mod 5y agoPretty tough to enact much change with the constitution standing in your way.
- sudosysgen 5y agoI don't think the Democrats are actually that miffed by the constitution limiting their ability to implement change. If they were really wishing they could do more, they wouldn't pretend they couldn't do anything when they actually do have the ability.
- notahacker 5y agoTaxes aren't beyond partisan influences though. The UK's Conservative Party cut top rate income tax whilst the budget was in deficit. Clearly, the Labour Party would not have done this. Similarly, the Democrats would not have passed Trump's tax cuts, and the Republicans would not have hiked the top rate Sure, they are constrained by the art of the possible: massive top-rate rises and cuts are extremely appealing to left/right bases respectively but are constrained by the fact that (i) the median voter they need to woo doesn't like extreme change and (ii) extreme changes usually won't actually have the positive impact on the economy which left/right ideology claims they will. So tax changes usually aren't drastic, and don't show up well in panel data studies. But there's still plenty of changes at the margin and especially to tax incidence which are the result of one party being elected over another.