Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
The Independent Review
Volume
19
Issue
1
Publisher
Independent Institute
Publication Date
1-1-2014
Journal Article Version
Version of Record
First Page
47
Last Page
64
Abstract
Revenue shortfalls associated with the Great Recession and the slow recovery that followed have placed the budgets of many U.S. state and local governments under heavy stress. In the past several years, lingering economic troubles have eroded governmental tax bases while voters have remained strongly resistant to proposals for cutting public spending or raising taxes on income, property, or other broad bases. This has left many states searching for new revenue sources. Particularly attractive targets for "revenue enhancement" are goods that policymakes deem to be "sinful" or misguided because they are bad for the user or generate negative externalities or both. Historically, consumer goods such as tobacco, alcohol, and motor fuels have been singled out for selective excise taxation.
Recommended Citation
Hoffer, Adam J.; Shughart, William F. II; and Thomas, Michael D., "Sin Taxes and Sindustry: Revenue, Paternalism, and Political Interest" (2014). Economics and Finance Faculty Publications. Paper 954.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/econ_facpubs/954
