Fuzzy Math: The Essential Guide to the Bush Tax Plan

by Paul Krugman

Overview

Wielding his widely recognized powers of explanation, Paul Krugman lays bare the hidden facts behind the $2 trillion tax cut.

With huge budget surpluses just ahead, the question of whether to cut taxes has shifted to when? and by how much? With Fuzzy Math, Paul Krugman dissects the Bush tax proposal and shows us who wins, who loses, and how quickly the tax cuts will consume the surplus. Always the equal-opportunity critic when it comes to faulty economics, Krugman also tucks into the Democratic alternatives to the Bush plan.

This little book packs a big wallop. Together with major media appearances, it puts Krugman's wisdom and steely-eyed analysis firmly at the center of the debate about how to spend upwards of $2 trillion. It may very well change the course of history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393339468
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	05/01/2010
Pages:	130
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Paul Krugman, recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics and best-selling author, has been a columnist at The New York Times for twenty years. A Distinguished Professor at City University of New York, he lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

New York Times editorial page correspondent and Princeton economics professor Paul Krugman goes behind the political spin control, outlining how and why the proposed Bush tax cut would: eliminate the surplus (and put the budget back into a deficit) while it overstates it at the same time; fail to give the flagging economy the boost it claims to; benefit the extremely wealthy, while not doing much for those who need tax relief the most; force a raid on the Medicare surplus; and choke off spending on vital government services. Krugman also addresses the debate over cutting or eliminating the estate tax: He explains that as it only affects the profoundly rich, it would do nothing to help the vast majority of taxpayers. Rather, he says, it is the payroll tax that should be adjusted to help those who need help most.(Nicholas Sinisi)

bn.com

Economist Paul Krugman analyzes the Bush and other tax proposals, showing who wins, who loses, and how quickly the tax cuts will consume the surplus. He argues that although the tax cut might not be a matter of economic life or death, it has become a central political issue that has a distorting effect on the debate on other issues and discourages crusaders from telling the truth about their own proposals. He also maintains that reporters and TV commentators don't understand the basics about the federal government and that they, together with politicians, have confused the public. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews