A Historical Analysis of the "Marriage Tax Penalty"

摘要: The marriage tax penalty resurfaces as a topic of interest when policy makers consider the economic consequences increasing marginal rates on declining “family values”. Aim and Whittington [1993] found that taxes influence incidence marriage. A historical perspective its counterpart, bonus or “subsidy”, merit consideration re-evaluation in light current trends toward higher rates. This paper develops framework for study federal income conducts detailed analysis first quartile, weighted average, third quartile taxpayers over entire history United States personal tax. It demonstrates potential bonuses have historically been consistently more significant than penalties. In fact, penalties do not gain prominence until 1964. trend will increase both bonus. T...