Description
Book Synopsis: An engaging and enlightening account of taxation told through lively, dramatic, and sometimes ludicrous stories drawn from around the world and across the ages. Governments have always struggled to tax in ways that are effective and tolerably fair. Sometimes they fail grotesquely, as when, in 1898, the British ignited a rebellion in Sierra Leone by imposing a tax on huts—and, in repressing it, ended up burning the very huts they intended to tax. Sometimes they succeed astonishingly, as when, in eighteenth-century Britain, a cut in the tax on tea massively increased revenue. In this entertaining book, two leading authorities on taxation, Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod, provide a fascinating and informative tour through these and many other episodes in tax history, both preposterous and dramatic—from the plundering described by Herodotus and an Incan tax payable in lice to the (misremembered) Boston Tea Party and the scandals of the Panama Papers. Along the way, readers meet a colorful cast of tax rascals, and even a few tax heroes.
While it is hard to fathom the inspiration behind such taxes as one on ships that tended to make them sink, Keen and Slemrod show that yesterday’s tax systems have more in common with ours than we may think. Georgian England’s window tax now seems quaint, but was an ingenious way of judging wealth unobtrusively. And Tsar Peter the Great’s tax on beards aimed to induce the nobility to shave, much like today’s carbon taxes aim to slow global warming.
Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue is a surprising and one-of-a-kind account of how history illuminates the perennial challenges and timeless principles of taxation—and how the past holds clues to solving the tax problems of today.
Details
Discover the fascinating world of taxation with Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue: Tax Follies and Wisdom through the Ages! This unique book takes you on a captivating journey through history, revealing the outrageous, dramatic, and often hilarious stories behind taxation around the world. From failed tax policies that sparked rebellions to brilliant strategies that skyrocketed revenue, this book offers a thrilling look at the trials and triumphs of taxation.
Written by renowned taxation experts Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod, this book is a treasure trove of knowledge that will leave you enlightened and entertained. Explore the tax plundering described by Herodotus, discover an Incan tax payable in lice, and unravel the mystery of the infamous Boston Tea Party. Along the way, you'll meet an intriguing cast of tax rascals and even a few tax heroes.
While some taxes may seem absurd, Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue shows that there is more to them than meets the eye. Georgian England's window tax, for example, may appear quaint now, but it was an ingenious way of assessing wealth discreetly. Just like today's carbon taxes aimed at combating global warming, Tsar Peter the Great's tax on beards aimed at influencing the grooming habits of the nobility.
Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue is not just a historical account. It sheds light on the timeless challenges and principles of taxation that are still relevant today. Gain a deeper understanding of tax systems and unlock valuable insights into solving the tax problems we face in the modern world. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind book that blends captivating storytelling with enlightening tax wisdom!
Ready to embark on this extraordinary tax journey? Click here to get your copy of Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue: Tax Follies and Wisdom through the Ages and discover a whole new perspective on taxation.
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