A few thoughts on tax policy. Thread:
So you are worth >$100M or perhaps even a few billion. There are only two ways to become this rich.
1. You start a business that becomes very successful.
2. You inherit wealth from your family. 1/
Whether you created a great company or inherited a lot of wealth, you are now sitting on a capital asset. You donโt really have any ordinary income (not meaningful to be relevant) and you never will. To the extent you ever pay taxes, it will be capital gains. 2/
The highest tax rate that the super rich will ever pay on their income (or wealth) is 20% capital gains tax. So, the super rich pay the equivalent effective tax rate of any American earning $75K (when you include FICA taxes). Same as a teacher or a cop. 3/
The question following from this obvious injustice in the tax system is the appropriate policy for taxing capital income. Economic policy would suggest that the best tax rate on capital is 0%. Why? ...4/
...Because in a capitalist society you want capital flowing efficiently without friction to its most productive use. Benefits of that are obvious. 5/