Dr Andy Summers CKK 6.04

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Inequalities and Social Science and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course is suitable for students from any social science background, including but not only Law. No previous study of taxation is required. Some prior familiarity with tax concepts is advantageous but not essential.

This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.

This course is suitable for students from any social science background, including but not only Law. No previous study of taxation is required. Some prior familiarity with tax concepts is advantageous but not essential.

This course provides an introduction to tax policy using a variety of disciplinary perspectives including economics, philosophy, and political science, as well as law. It addresses questions such as: What is a ‘fair’ tax? What makes a tax efficient or inefficient? How do people respond to taxes? What can be done to improve tax compliance? What are the political influences on the tax policymaking process?

The aim of the course is to develop a ‘toolkit’ for thinking about taxes that enables students to critically assess existing tax policies and develop proposals for reform. We will use a range of examples from across the tax system including taxes on individuals and companies. Most examples will be drawn from the UK context but the principles are of wide application to other developed tax systems.

The seminar topics are: (1)  Introduction; (2) Tax and fairness; (3) Tax and property rights; (4) Key economic concepts; (5) Economic impacts; (6) Tax planning; (7) Designing the tax base; (8) Setting tax rates; (9) Tax compliance; (10) Tax and the political process.

This course will have two hours of teaching content each week in Winter Term, either in the form of a two hour seminar or an online lecture and one hour class. There will be a Reading Week in Week 6.

Students will receive formative feedback on one 1500-word essay or equivalent essay plan.

Devereux, M. et al (2021), Taxing Profit in a Global Economy. Oxford University Press.

Kay, J., & and King, M. (1990), The British tax system. Oxford University Press.

Kleven, H. et al (2019), Taxation and Migration: Evidence and Policy Implications’ The Journal of Economic Perspectives

Meade, J. et al (1978), The Structure and Reform of Direct Taxation: The Meade Report

Adam, S. & Miller, H. (2020), ‘Principles and practice of taxing small business’ in The Dynamics of Taxation. Hart Publishing

Mirrlees, J. et al (2011), Tax by design: the Mirrlees review. Oxford University Press.

Murphy, L. & Nagel, T. (2002), The Myth of Ownership: Taxes and Justice. Oxford University Press.

Oates, W. & Schwab, R. (2015), The Window Tax: A Case Study in Excess Burden. The Journal of Economic Perspectives

Slemrod, J., (2013), Buenas notches: lines and notches in tax system design

Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, Distributive Justice

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes) in the spring exam period.