Rethinking Wealth and Taxes

Geoffrey Poitras, Professor of Finance, Simon Fraser University, Canada

'An excellent book offering comprehensive discussions on the roots and policy issues of wealth inequality! The book ably demonstrates that, due to limitations in available wealth measures and the failure to account for globalization, wealth inequality is likely more than reported. Real challenges to the practical implementation of taxation schemes to capture gains in wealth and income are identified. I will surely use it as a reading assignment for my students.'--Donald Lien, University of Texas at San Antonio, US'If you want to understand the complicated relation between wealth, income and taxes this is the book to read. In a profound and impartial presentation Poitras argues that alleviating increases in wealth and income inequality raises complicated economic, political and ethical issues that reach to the heart of how the modern, globalized capitalist economy functions.'--Eduardo Schwartz, University of California, Los Angeles, US, Simon Fraser University, Canada and National Bureau of Economic Research, US'There is little doubt that taxing wealth is a controversial issue. There is also little doubt that there are many aspects of wealth taxation that are not well understood. By providing a broad perspective on the history of wealth taxation, together with an insightful analysis of recent research of wealth taxation, this book is an essential source for understanding the current debate on taxing wealth.'--James Alm, National Tax Association and Tulane University, US

• Contents: Introduction: Wealth and Taxes Part I The Wealthy and State Revenue Generation 1. Defining Wealth and Taxes on the Wealthy 2. Raising Government Revenue 3. State Revenue from Antiquity to the Modern Income Tax Part II Rethinking Taxation of the Wealthy 4. Public Economics of Taxing the Wealthy 5. Taxing the Wealthy across Jurisdictions 6. Reforming Taxes on Equity Capital References Index