Taxpayer Effects Of A Change To A Consumption Tax Base

Abstract

The goal of this study is to determine whether changes in tax law enacted with the purpose of inducing investment/savings actually have an impact on individual taxpayer spending behavior.  The Congressional records indicate that much recent tax reform has been designed to emulate a consumption tax; therefore, an analysis of the effects of tax law changes designed to stimulate savings on the individual taxpayer should allow generalization regarding the implications of a consumption tax base on the individual taxpayer, ignoring macroeconomic effects.