Abstract The optimal design of a tax system is a topic that has long fascinated economic theorists and flummoxed economic policymakers. This paper explores the interplay between tax theory and tax policy. It identifies key lessons policymakers might take from the academic literature on how taxes ought to be designed, and it discusses the extent to which these lessons are reflected in actual tax policy.

Citation Mankiw, N. Gregory, Matthew Weinzierl, and Danny Yagan. 2009. "Optimal Taxation in Theory and Practice." Journal of Economic Perspectives , 23 (4): 147-74 . DOI: 10.1257/jep.23.4.147 Choose Format: BibTeX EndNote Refer/BibIX RIS Tab-Delimited