The Myth of Ownership: Taxes and Justice by Thomas Nagel (English) Paperback Boo

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In a capitalist economy, taxes are the most important instrument by which the political system puts into practice a conception of economic and distributive justice. Taxes arouse strong passions, fueled not only by conflicts of economic self-interest, but by conflicting ideas of fairness.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description

In a capitalist economy, taxes are the most important instrument by which the political system puts into practice a conception of economic and distributive justice. Taxes arouse strong passions, fueled not only by conflicts of economic self-interest, but by conflicting ideas of fairness. Taking as a guiding principle the conventional nature of private property, Murphy and Nagel show how taxes can only be evaluated as part of the overall system of property rightsthat they help to create. Justice or injustice in taxation, they argue, can only mean justice or injustice in the system of property rights and entitlements that result from a particular regime. Taking upethical issues about individual liberty, interpersonal obligation, and both collective and personal responsibility, Murphy and Nagel force us to reconsider how our tax policy shapes our system of property rights.

Author Biography

Liam Murphy teaches law and philosophy at New York University. He is the author of Moral Demands in Nonideal Theory. Thomas Nagel teaches law and philosophy at New York University. He is the author of Moral Questions, Equality and Partiality, and The Last Word.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Traditional Criteria of Tax Equity1: Political Morality in Tax Policy: Fairness2: Vertical Equity: The Distribution of Tax Burdens3: The Benefit Principle4: Ability to Pay: Endowment5: Ability to Pay: Equal Sacrifice6: Ability to Pay as an Egalitarian Idea7: The Problem of Everyday Libertarianism8: Horizontal EquityChapter 3. Economic Justice ni Political Theory1: Political Legitimacy2: Consequentialism and Deontology3: Public Goods4: Benefits for Individuals5: Efficiency and Utilitarianism6: Distributive Justice, Fairness, and Priority to the Worst Off7: Equality of Oppotunity8: Legitamite Means and Individual Responsibility9: Rewards and Punishments10: Liberty and Libertarianism11: The Moral Significance of the Market12: Personal Motives and Political Values: The Moral Division of Labor13: ConclusionChapter 4. Redistribution and Public Provision1: Efficiency and Judgement2: Paying for Public Goods3: Which Goods are Public?4: Redistribution5: Transfer or Provision?6: Public Duties7: ConclusionChapter 5. The Tax Base1: Efficiency and Justice2: Outcomes, not Burdens3: The Consumption Base and Fairness to Savers4: Fairness as Equal Liberty5: Desert and the Accumulation of Capital: The "Common Pool"6: Wealth and Welfare7: Wealth and Opportunity8: Endowment and the Value of Autonomy9: Exclusions and Credits10: TransitionsChapter 6. Progressivity1: Graduation, Progression, Incidence, and Outcomes2: Assessment of Outcomes3: Optimal Taxation4: Tax ReformChapter 7. Inheritance1: The "Death Tax"2: The Tax Base of the Donee3: No Deduction for Donors4: Details and Objections5: Equal Opportunity and Transfer Taxation6: ConclusionChapter 8. Tax Discrimination1: Justifying Differential Treatment2: An Example: The Marriage Penalty3: Incentive Effects and ArbitrarinessChapter 9. Conclusion: Politics1: Theory and Practice2: Justice and Self-Interest3: Plausible Policies4: Effective Moral IdeasNotesReferencesIndex

Review

"The thoughts in this book deserve examination, especially the views of Nagel and Murphy on the self-interest each taxpayer reasonably has in the social justice purchased by hard-earned money....[They] offer ideas that would improve the national debate."--David Cay Johnston,New York Times Book Review"Murphy and Nagel claim that pretax income is a myth, and, as such, has no moral significance.... The Myth of Ownership significantly increases the sophistication of the discussion [fairness in taxation]."--Michigan Law ReviewTheir research is impressive, their reasoning precise.... should be on every public economics reading list."--Journal of Economic Issues"Murphy and Nagel claim that pretax income is a myth, and, as such, has no moral significance.... The Myth of Ownership significantly increases the sophistication of the discussion [fairness in taxation]."--Michigan Law Review"The thoughts in this book deserve examination, especially the views of Nagel and Murphy on the self-interest each taxpayer reasonably has in the social justice purchased by hard-earned money....[They] offer ideas that would improve the national debate."--David Cay Johnston,New York Times Book Review"The Myth of Ownership...should be read by all who wish to enter the discussion regarding taxes."--William Michell Law Review"The authors very effectively argue that the taxation, such as the benefit and ability-to-pay principles, fall victim to a fatal defect. Justice in taxation cannot be assessed apart from a general theory of property rights."--The Mises Review"The best book by far on the political morality of taxation. In a clear and compelling analysis, Murphy and Nagel expose the mistake of thinking that individuals own their pretax income and they examine the social benefits of justifiable tax policy. Taking this book's message to heart would transform contemporary democratic politics."--Amy Gutmann, Provost and Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Politics, Princeton University"This magnificent contribution from the distinguished philosophers Liam Murphy and Thomas Nagel reminds us that fundamental issues of justice lie at the core of often mundane debates about taxation. The provocative thesis of The Myth of Ownership that the tax system helps create, rather than conforms to, the overall system of property rights has profound policy implications. I highly recommend this engaging book and the rethinking of first principlesit inspires to anyone interested in taxation and the role of government in society and the economy."--Joel Slemrod, Paul W. McCracken Collegiate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, University ofMichigan

Promotional

First book to discuss tax policy in depth from the standpoint of philosophy

Long Description

In a capitalist economy, taxes are the most important instrument by which the political system puts into practice a conception of economic and distributive justice. Taxes arouse strong passions, fueled not only by conflicts of economic self-interest, but by conflicting ideas of fairness. Taking as a guiding principle the conventional nature of private property, Murphy and Nagel show how taxes can only be evaluated as part of the overall system of property rightsthat they help to create. Justice or injustice in taxation, they argue, can only mean justice or injustice in the system of property rights and entitlements that result from a particular regime. Taking up ethical issues about individual liberty, interpersonal obligation, and both collective and personalresponsibility, Murphy and Nagel force us to reconsider how our tax policy shapes our system of property rights.

Review Text

"The thoughts in this book deserve examination, especially the views of Nagel and Murphy on the self-interest each taxpayer reasonably has in the social justice purchased by hard-earned money....[They] offer ideas that would improve the national debate."--David Cay Johnston,New York Times Book Review"Murphy and Nagel claim that pretax income is a myth, and, as such, has no moral significance.... The Myth of Ownership significantly increases the sophistication of the discussion [fairness in taxation]."--Michigan Law ReviewTheir research is impressive, their reasoning precise.... should be on every public economics reading list."--Journal of Economic Issues"Murphy and Nagel claim that pretax income is a myth, and, as such, has no moral significance.... The Myth of Ownership significantly increases the sophistication of the discussion [fairness in taxation]."--Michigan Law Review"The thoughts in this book deserve examination, especially the views of Nagel and Murphy on the self-interest each taxpayer reasonably has in the social justice purchased by hard-earned money....[They] offer ideas that would improve the national debate."--David Cay Johnston,New York Times Book Review"The Myth of Ownership...should be read by all who wish to enter the discussion regarding taxes."--William Michell Law Review"The authors very effectively argue that the taxation, such as the benefit and ability-to-pay principles, fall victim to a fatal defect. Justice in taxation cannot be assessed apart from a general theory of property rights."--The Mises Review"The best book by far on the political morality of taxation. In a clear and compelling analysis, Murphy and Nagel expose the mistake of thinking that individuals own their pretax income and they examine the social benefits of justifiable tax policy. Taking this book's message to heart would transform contemporary democratic politics."--Amy Gutmann, Provost and Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Politics, Princeton University"This magnificent contribution from the distinguished philosophers Liam Murphy and Thomas Nagel reminds us that fundamental issues of justice lie at the core of often mundane debates about taxation. The provocative thesis of The Myth of Ownership that the tax system helps create, rather than conforms to, the overall system of property rights has profound policy implications. I highly recommend this engaging book and the rethinking of first principlesit inspires to anyone interested in taxation and the role of government in society and the economy."--Joel Slemrod, Paul W. McCracken Collegiate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, University of Michigan

Review Quote

"This magnificent contribution from the distinguished philosophers LiamMurphy and Thomas Nagel reminds us that fundamental issues of justice lie at thecore of often mundane debates about taxation. The provocative thesis of The Mythof Ownership that the tax system helps create, rather than conforms to, theoverall system of property rights has profound policy implications. I highlyrecommend this engaging book and the rethinking of first principles it inspiresto anyone interested in taxation and the role of government in society and theeconomy."--Joel Slemrod, Paul W. McCracken Collegiate Professor of BusinessEconomics and Public Policy, University of Michigan

Promotional "Headline"

Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Traditional Criteria of Tax Equity 1. Political Morality in Tax Policy: Fairness 2. Vertical Equity: The Distribution of Tax Burdens 3. The Benefit Principle 4. Ability to Pay: Endowment 5. Ability to Pay: Equal Sacrifice 6. Ability to Pay as an Egalitarian Idea 7. The Problem of Everday Libertarianism 8. Horizontal Equity Chapter 3. Economic Justice ni Political Theory 1. Political Legitimacy 2. Consequentialism and Deontology 3. Public Goods 4. Benefits for Individuals 5. Efficiency and Utilitarianism 6. Distributive Justice, Fairness, and Priority to the Worst Off 7. Equality of Oppotunity 8. Legitamite Means and Individual Responsibility 9. Rewards and Punishments 10. Liberty and Libertarianism 11. The Moral Significance of the Market 12. Personal Motives and Political Values: The Moral Division of Labor 13. Conclusion Chapter 4. Redistribution and Public Provision 1. Efficiency and Judgement 2. Paying for Public Goods 3. Which Goods are Public? 4. Redistribution 5. Transfer or Provision? 6. Public Duties 7. Conclusion Chapter 5. The Tax Base 1. Efficiency and Justice 2. Outcomes, not Burdens 3. The Consumption Base and Fairness to Savers 4. Fairness as Equal Liberty 5. Desert and the Accumulation of Capital: The "Common Pool" 6. Wealth and Welfare 7. Wealth and Opportunity 8. Endowment and the Value of Autonomy 9. Exclusions and Credits 10. Transitions Chapter 6. Progressivity 1. Graduation, Progression, Incidence, and Outcomes 2. Assessment of Outcomes 3. Optimal Taxation 4. Tax Reform Chapter 7. Inheritance 1. The "Death Tax" 2. The Tax Base of the Donee 3. No Deduction for Donors 4. Details and Objections 5. Equal Opportunity and Transfer Taxation 6. Conclusion Chapter 8. Tax Discrimination 1. Justifying Differential Treatment 2. An Example: The Marriage Penalty 3. Incentive Effects and Arbitrariness Chapter 9. Conclusion: Politics 1. Theory and Practice 2. Justice and Self-Interest 3. Plausible Policies 4. Effective Moral Ideas Notes References Index

Feature

First book to discuss tax policy in depth from the standpoint of philosophyDeals with current events such as "marriage penalty" and "flat tax" proposals

Details ISBN0195176561 Author Liam Murphy Short Title MYTH OF OWNERSHIP Language English ISBN-10 0195176561 ISBN-13 9780195176568 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 336.200 Year 2004 Subtitle Taxes and Justice Illustrations black & white illustrations Position Senior Lecturer Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Affiliation Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney DOI 10.1604/9780195176568 UK Release Date 2004-12-09 AU Release Date 2004-12-09 NZ Release Date 2004-12-09 US Release Date 2004-12-09 Illustrator Qu Lan Edited by Richard V. Ericson Death 1851 Qualifications PhD Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Publication Date 2004-12-09 Audience Professional & Vocational Pages 240 We've got this

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