Examines how effective federal tax rates will change over the coming decade under current law -- that is, if the provisions of tax laws enacted in 2001, 2002, & 2003 phase in, phase out, & ¿sunset¿ as scheduled. Under current law & the assumption that incomes grow at a constant rate, the overall effective federal tax rate drops from 21.5% in 2001 to 19.6% in 2004. It then rises irregularly over the subsequent decade as tax provisions phase in & out. The increases in the effective tax rate between 2005 & 2010 & between 2011 & 2014 occur primarily because rising real incomes move taxpayers into higher tax brackets & the alternative minimum tax affects more taxpayers over time. Charts & tables.

Examines the impact of the economy on the living standards of the American people over the post-World War II. Comprises seven chapters which cover: family income; wages; employment, unemployment; wealth; income distribution and poverty; regional disparities; and international comparisons.

No government can be sustained without the ability to tax its citizens. The question then arises how can a nation do so in a way that's fair and equitable to taxpayers while simultaneously promoting economic growth and providing the state with the funds it needs to adequately address the needs of its citizens? This insightful work, featuring contributions from a stellar array of international tax experts and economists, addresses the crucial, relevant issues which developed countries will confront in the early decades of the 21st century: The pursuit of tax reform. Personal tax base: income or consumption? Tax rate scale: equity and efficiency aspects. Business tax reform: structural and design issues. Interjurisdictional issues. Controlling tax avoidance.