Tax Politics & Policy Workshop

This page is for the participants of the Tax Politics & Policy Workshop at Harvard University. The workshop will be held on Saturday, October 27th, 2012 at the Harvard Kennedy School (Fifth Floor Allison Dining Room, Taubman Building) starting at 9 AM.

The workshop has been made possible through the generous support of the Harvard Multidisciplinary Program on Inequality and Social Policy. Contact Alex Hertel-Fernandez (ahertel@fas.harvard.edu or 765-430-2063) with any questions.

Agenda

  • 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast and arrivals
  • 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Introductions and logistics
  • 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM: Paper discussion 1 – “Taxation and Trust in Government” – Ethan Porter, discussed by Charlotte Cavaille (Paper here)
  • 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Break for coffee
  • 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM: Paper discussion 2 – “Republican Party-Building and Anti-Tax Policies” – Laura Blessing, discussed by Noam Gidron (Paper here)
  • 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM Break for coffee and to get lunch
  • 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch time discussion of the future of tax politics research with Andrea Campbell and Theda Skocpol
  • 1:30 PM – 1:45 PM: Break for coffee
  • 1:45 PM – 3:00 PM: Paper discussion 3 – “Death by Taxes: Why Democrats Struggle with the Politics of Revenue” – Alexander Hertel-Fernandez and Theda Skocpol, discussed by Danny Schlozman (Paper here)
  • 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Paper discussion 4 – “Oversight, Maintenance and Repeal of Tax Breaks: The Case of the Investment Tax Credit” – Jake Haselswerdt, discussed by Janet Porras (Paper here) 
  • 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM: Break for coffee
  • 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Paper discussion 5 – “Income Volatility and Progressive Taxes: What do Americans Really Want and Why?” – Adrienne Hosek, discussed by Tom O’Grady (Paper here)

Logistics

  • Getting to the Kennedy School: See this page for information on how to get to the Kennedy School. See this page for directions using public transportation. The workshop will be held on the fifth floor of the Taubman Building. Note that you will have to enter the Taubman building through the courtyard entrance (not the entrance facing Harvard Square); you will also be asked for an photo ID if you are not a Harvard affiliate). 
"The power of taxing people and their property is essential to the very existence of government.'' — James Madison, U.S. President

"Like mothers, taxes are often misunderstood, but seldom forgotten.'' — Lord Bramwell, 19th Century English jurist