tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post8361175542396182506..comments2023-10-25T02:52:26.716-07:00Comments on Tzimiskes: Problems with Decentralization: Tax Breaks to Attract BusinessesTzimiskeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13002441291627298737noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-39003066721525186292011-04-15T18:11:57.155-07:002011-04-15T18:11:57.155-07:00Cornel,
I love Byzantium, so I never tire of refe...Cornel,<br /><br />I love Byzantium, so I never tire of references to it. Feel free to hammer away with that story. I think something similar happened in most societies though. It seems every society develops some form of elite justifying ideology that says the powerful are already contributing so much to society, and have some special qualities shown by their high position that allow them to do this, that we shouldn't tax them so they can do more of those things the powerful do to make society happy and well off. It kinda amazes me how creative societies get in finding ways to justify why their specific set of powerful people have some special quality that makes their society so special and that anyone buys these stories since every society has one and it's always different. And always transparently self-serving.Tzimiskeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002441291627298737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-80473076795289890392011-04-15T18:08:04.725-07:002011-04-15T18:08:04.725-07:00Doug,
Those are good points. I'm aware from ...Doug,<br /><br />Those are good points. I'm aware from reading Free Exchange that the situation with Texas is complicated, but they definitely have the low tax reputation. I think the dynamics I was point out exist, but in the complex situation of the real world it's hard to think of clear examples that don't requiring more explaining the reasons for choosing than actually drawing conclusions from.<br /><br />If I actually finish my book and find an agent I'll let you know, but I have a lot of unfinished projects so I wouldn't put money down betting I'll get there (though maybe I should as a way of motivating myself). At least you got your novel done, which is a step further than I am.<br /><br />If I get really ambitious I may have to get around to mastering wordpress or something that will give me more tools. Since I still haven't gotten around to choosing a background, finishing my definitions list, finishing my book list (since I haven't been buying a lot of new books recently, I've got a big stack to read first), or creating a blog roll that may be a while in the future yet.Tzimiskeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002441291627298737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-58644010561821857562011-04-15T18:03:26.255-07:002011-04-15T18:03:26.255-07:00G,
There's a certain mythology in this countr...G,<br /><br />There's a certain mythology in this country about decentralization, I'm not really sure what it's roots are really. Dates back to at least the anti-Federalist papers. Which is why I harp on the subject, it's said to be great with little understanding of the costs/benefits.<br /><br />While I'm often going on about the problems, I do recognize that many benefits are real. Such as the ability of less desirable states to attract people with lower taxes. This helps to even out population and business. The problem results when an otherwise fairly desirable place does this to attract even more people.<br /><br />Like most things, I believe that things should tend toward the mean. In the US however, we're already at an extreme end on this so I believe in putting pressure to shift things back towards international means. Competitive states tend to weed out bad policies over time, so divergence only last for a short period until others start imitating you. If no one is imitating you, then it's a really good hint that deviation was the wrong choice.Tzimiskeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002441291627298737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-50115209768527483252011-04-10T10:55:18.182-07:002011-04-10T10:55:18.182-07:00That is why I sort of felt that the Irish deserved...That is why I sort of felt that the Irish deserved the problems they got. I have no respect for an economic model that cannot at least theoretically be reproduced all over the world with a great result, instead stealing the fruits of investments made in high tax countries.JGradushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11154617153560872124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-18457384334439632692011-04-09T20:44:47.411-07:002011-04-09T20:44:47.411-07:00Reminds me of the system in the Byzantium, but you...Reminds me of the system in the Byzantium, but you would have to equate landlords with business. In the end, the imperial court was not receiving any money from the landed nobility, just pittances from plebes and merchants and trades. The empire crumbled...But I keep hammering at you with this story over and over again.kouroihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04775442282940421580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-14212059326143213872011-04-09T07:08:50.776-07:002011-04-09T07:08:50.776-07:00Almost as off-topic. It makes me sad that I can&#...Almost as off-topic. It makes me sad that I can't recommend gcross' comment. Implicit recommendation, ok, dude?Doug The Unahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04753071669562594194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-29831539295590901392011-04-09T07:08:05.511-07:002011-04-09T07:08:05.511-07:00It seems a little like a self-solvng problem, thou...It seems a little like a self-solvng problem, though. As municipalities give away taxes to attract businesses, the public sector should aggregate around the federal axis. <br /><br />On the other hand, what the businesses seem actually to be doing is shifting their corporate tax burden to their employees. Texas seems to actually have the same size government in per capita spending as California (and a similar deficit.) The big difference as far as I can tell is that property taxes in Texas substitute for corporate taxes here in Cali.<br /><br />Way off topic- I wrote a novel last year which I've been too busy/lazy to send to a publisher. If you find an agent or something, let a fella know, ok?Doug The Unahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04753071669562594194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052097781213973653.post-69729462670453534582011-04-08T22:41:28.046-07:002011-04-08T22:41:28.046-07:00I have to say, Tz, that I never really understood ...I have to say, Tz, that I never really understood the problem with decentralization before reading this blog. I grew up in a conservative household so if anything I had been a little biased in favor of it, but since reading this I have come to appreciate that many of the supposedly local decisions really aren't local in in impact at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com