Funding the Modern American State, 1941-1995: The Rise and Fall of the Era of Easy Finance

Description

The current fiscal crisis faced by the American federal government represents the end of a fiscal regime that began with the financing of World War II. In this volume, an interdisciplinary group of scholars explores the history of American taxation and public finance since 1941 in an attempt to understand the political, social and economic forces that have shaped the current regime. Specifically, they examine the historical context of earlier tax regimes and national crises, explore the ways post-1941 governments used taxation to finance war, social security, and economic stability, and analyze the politics of post-1941 tax reform.

"These scholarly essays are well documented and objective...this volume will serve as a valuable source of information about events of great importance." Political Science Quarterly "The eight essays in Funding the Modern American State, 1945-1995, offer an excellent guide to US tax policy in the twentieth century." Robert Cuff, Business Library Review