Richard Thaler Quotes

Tax policy is not about compassion.

We can fight over what the taxation levels should be, but the tax system should be very, very simple and not distortionary.

We need to stop kicking the can down the road and rethink our entire tax system toward long-term, comprehensive tax reform.

Tax reductions are usually simpler and less distortive. I'm certainly willing to look at getting rid of tax deductions/credits, and go to dramatically reduced rates.

What you don't want to have is tax-driven economic activity.

A tax code becomes an instrument of social policy.

You can't have a rigid view that all new taxes are evil.

Closing tax loopholes has to be part of the revenue equation.

It's widely accepted that it is reasonable for a government to use tax policy to change behaviour.

It's not hard to cut taxes.

A properly designed tax system can strike a balance between helping the poor and, at the same time, giving people the incentive to work.

I favor the abolition of all Social Security, Medicare and estate taxes. In their place, we should create a simple income tax system that has no deductions or credits at all.

I think that taxes have to exist. They should exist at the lowest possible level, and to the extent that we can, we shouldn't invent more. Maybe that's my experience being mayor of New York City, where we had so many taxes.

What I want to do is make certain that no one's taxes go up. Let's look at cleaning up the tax code.

I think the tax cut is ridiculous but so am I.

The tax code is very inefficient. Both the personal tax code and the corporate tax code. By closing loopholes and lowering rates, you could increase the efficiency of the tax code and create more incentives for people to invest.

Broaden the tax base, close loopholes and flatten the tax rates - all of which would bring more revenue stability and certitude to projections as well as make filing a comparable breeze.

To me, there are four F's in a good tax system: it ought to be flatter, fairer, finite and family-friendly.

Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.

Obama's view of the tax code is inherently political: Whom can we hit next? Energy companies, jet owners, bankers? Instead, the question should be how to promote economic efficiency by raising revenue without trying to manipulate corporate or personal behavior.

Many Republicans have what I call a 'tax-cut syndrome' where they have never seen a tax cut they didn't really like and didn't see a tax increase they didn't hate and do everything they could to block.

Individuals and businesses must participate in a national discussion about a simpler tax system, one that collects sufficient revenue to meet appropriate federal responsibilities, but one resting on a broader, fairer tax base without penalizing saving and investing, the backbone of a strong, decentralized and thriving economy.

The income tax is flawed for a number of reasons - it discourages economic growth and encourages a bloated government.

Marginal tax rates are the lowest they've been in generations, and all we can talk about is tax cuts.

Today, and I'm very strongly against tax increases.