Progressive Taxes May Discourage the Most Productive Work

A real-world example shows how taxes eat into marginal income, steering workers toward lower-paying but more-pleasant jobs.
Progressive Taxes May Discourage the Most Productive Work
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Commentary

Could income taxes ever encourage someone to switch from a higher-paying to a lower-paying job? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is yes. I have a recent example of this in my own family.

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Jason Sorens
Jason Sorens
Author
Jason Sorens is senior research faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), co-author of “Freedom in the 50 States,” and founder of the Free State Project.