Manski: Removing Deadweight Loss from Economic Discourse on Income Taxation and Public Spending

Another quick one:

Removing deadweight loss from economic discourse on income taxation and public spending, by Charles F Manski, Vox EU: Economists usually think of taxation as inefficient. This column argues that the anti-tax rhetoric evident in much lay discussion of public policy draws considerable support from the prevalent negative language of professional economic discourse. Optimal income taxation doesn’t have to employ the pejorative concepts of inefficiency, deadweight loss and distortion; and this column argues that it is high time for economists to discard them and make analysis of taxation and public spending distortion-free.

Column here.