Two can pigou that game
November 16, 2012 3 Comments
Liam Malloy & John Case propose higher income tax as a ‘Pigouvian tax’ on ‘inequality’.
Assuming that a highly skewed income distribution results in negative political externalities…
Assuming a spherical cow…
This is a nice illustration of the obvious fact that in practice ‘Pigouvian tax’ just means ‘a tax on something or someone I don’t like’. ‘Externality’ means ‘I don’t like it’.
Well, I don’t like lefty fucktards, and their dumbass, disingenuous, rights-violating ideas clearly impose an ‘externality’ on me. It’s clearly time for a ‘Pigouvian tax’ on being a lefty fucktard.
+1
It seems reasonable to me to assume that a highly skewed income distribution results in negative political externalities. Namely, it increases the chance that “lefty fucktards” will riot violently. So think of a higher income tax as an anti-riot tax (or, if you prefer, “bribe”). Now assume that this tax bribe will reduce the negative externality of violent riots. Hmm. Ok, nevermind.
heh