JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
  • About K
  • Academics
  • Admission
  • Alumni Relations
  • Giving to K
  • News & Events
  • Student Life
  • HORNET HIVE
  • ATHLETICS
  • SITEMAP
  • WEBMAIL
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   CACHE Homepage
    • Academic Departments, Programs, and SIPs
    • Economics and Business
    • Economics and Business Senior Integrated Projects
    • View Item
    •   CACHE Homepage
    • Academic Departments, Programs, and SIPs
    • Economics and Business
    • Economics and Business Senior Integrated Projects
    • View Item

    Saving America from Itself: Taxing Sin

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Searchable PDF / Kalamazoo College Only (2.433Mb)
    Date
    2011
    Author
    Carey, William Dane
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Far too many people in United States suffer from a variety of preventable health problems. Individuals are making choices that result in a host of negative outcomes. Some negative outcomes can be categorized as externalities, but a larger portion is more correctly categorized as internalities. Despite a growing amount of attention, internalities have not historically been the focus of extensive research. The severity of the internality problem, however, leaves the United States in need of a solution. My objective in this paper is to demonstrate that sin taxes can be used as an effective public policy mechanism for correcting internalities. To do this I will first show that the two alternative approaches used in the past have been unsuccessful. I will go on to narrate the limited use of sin taxes at the federal and state level, and then examine the United States' application of this tax in a world perspective. My subsequent objective will be to provide an explanation for the unusually low level of sin taxes in the United States. Finally, I will make the case for taxing sin by describing how an internality is a form of market failure. I will then demonstrate how taxation is able to correct this failure, and chronicle the precedential effectiveness of sin taxes at correcting internalities and generating government revenue. In order to further substantiate the advantages of this policy, I will address the main concerns surrounding sin taxes and show why they are ill-founded.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10920/26240
    Collections
    • Economics and Business Senior Integrated Projects [1195]

    Browse

    All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2022  DuraSpace
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV
    Logo

    Kalamazoo College
    1200 Academy Street
    Kalamazoo Michigan 49006-3295
    USA
    Info 269-337-7000
    Admission 1-800-253-3602

    About K
    Academics
    Admission
    Alumni Relations
    Giving to K
    News & Events
    Student Life
    Sitemap
    Map & Directions
    Contacts
    Directories
    Nondiscrimination Policy
    Consumer Information
    Official disclaimer
    Search this site


    Academic Calendars
    Apply
    Bookstore
    Crisis Response
    Employment
    Library
    Registrar
    DSpace Express is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV