Non-technical discussion by leading economists and scholars, illustrating how the principles of tax analysis can be applied to real-world issues. Among the topics addressed are alternatives to income tax, devolution of fiscal responsibilities, the effect of tax policy on growth, and the value of local incentives designed to attract business.

1. The real world of tax policy Joel Slemrod; 2. Federal tax reform Jane G. Gravelle, Peter Birch Sørensen, John L. Mikesell, Matthew N. Murray and Martin D. Ginsburg; 3. Federalism and subfederal taxes Richard M. Bird, Edward M. Gramlich, Wallace E. Oates, John M. Quigley, Daniel L. Rubinfeld, Steven D. Gold, Andrew Reschovsky, Helen F. Ladd, John Yinger, William H. Oakland, Paul N. Courant and Timothy J. Bartik; 4. Principles, politics, and the professors Alan J. Auerbach, R. Glenn Hubbard, Eric Engern, Jonathan Skinner, Jonas Agell, Peter Englund, Jan Södersten, Alan J. Auerbach, James Alm, Louis Kaplow, Randall G. Holcombe, Walter Hettich, Stanley Winer, James Poterba, Joel Slemrod, William G. Gale and Michael Keen.

"The authors, all leading analysts in their fields, bring the current arguments into an accessible form that would be attractive for government analysts as well as students and researchers in economics, law, political science, and public administration." Choice