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The Collision of Tax and Welfare Politics: The Political History of the Earned Income Tax Credit, 1969-99

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  • Ventry, Dennis J. Jr.

Abstract

This paper uses the political history and pre-history of the EITC to describe how the politics of welfare reform influence tax policies that function as social policy. It suggests that the economic tradeoffs inherent in the formulation of tax-transfer programs are also political tradeoffs. It examines policy choices between costs and labor supply incentives, as well as those between ease of participation and compliance rates. This paper concludes that although economic analysis influenced the creation and development of the EITC, political factors, not economics, animated the history of the program.

Suggested Citation

  • Ventry, Dennis J. Jr., 2000. "The Collision of Tax and Welfare Politics: The Political History of the Earned Income Tax Credit, 1969-99," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 53(4), pages 983-1026, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:53:y:2000:i:4:p:983-1026
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2000.4S1.01
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Browning, Edgar K., 1995. "Effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit on Income and Welfare," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association, vol. 48(1), pages 23-43, March.
    2. N. Eissa & H. W. Hoynes, "undated". "The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Labor Supply of Married Couples," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1194-99, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    3. Dickert, Stacy & Houser, Scott & Scholz, John Karl, 1994. "Taxes and the Poor: A Microsimulation Study of Implicit and Explicit Taxes," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 47(3), pages 621-638, September.
    4. Saul D. Hoffman & Laurence S. Seidman, 1990. "The Earned Income Tax Credit," Books from Upjohn Press, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, number eitc.
    5. Browning, Edgar K., 1995. "Effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit on Income and Welfare," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 48(1), pages 23-43, March.
    6. Bosso, Christopher J., 1994. "Agendas and Instability in American Politics. By Frank R. Baumgartner and Bryan D. Jones. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. 289p. $47.50 cloth, $14.95 paper," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 752-753, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicole Simpson & Devin Reilly & Kartik Athreya, 2010. "The Earned Income Tax Credit: Insurance Without Disincentives?," 2010 Meeting Papers 1103, Society for Economic Dynamics.

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