‘Just’ Tax Policies for Market-Based Democracies – An Introduction to a Wicksell Constitutional Approach

Abstract

The conventional approach to public finance contributes to the growth in the scope of governments under liberal democracy. Orthodox analysis of tax policy utilizes a framework that aims to satisfy government revenue objectives while doing the least additional harm to the economy. An unintended consequence arises from the search for ‘optimal’ tax rates or revenue-neutrality of tax cuts that economists rely upon to ease the path to higher public-sector spending. We deem this a ‘macro’ approach that involves a top-down perspective in that it places government at the heart of the issue. An alternative approach to public finance is derived from seminal contributions by Knut Wicksell. We deem this a ‘micro’ approach to tax policy that shifts the perspective of tax policy to individual taxpayers. Applying the insights of Wicksell to public finance inquiries can contribute to halting and perhaps reversing the growth trends of governments under democracy.