Advocates of lower statutory tax rates argue that reduced rates would increase economic growth, increase saving and investment, and boost productivity. Skeptics of this view argue that higher tax revenues are necessary for debt reduction, that tax rates on high-income taxpayers are too low (., they violate the “Buffett rule”), and that higher tax rates on high-income taxpayers would moderate increasing income inequality. This report examines top statutory individual income tax rates since 1945 in relation to these arguments and seeks to explore what, if any, association exists between the top statutory tax rates and economic growth. 9 The analysis examines.
