To help staffers on Capitol Hill better understand the economics of taxation and our current tax options, the Mercatus Center hosted this lecture by Dr. Garett Jones, Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University. In his talk, Dr. Jones provides a fundamental overview of taxation and explores how shifts in tax policy affect individual behavior and the economy as a whole.

Dr. Jones discusses such questions as:

• How do taxes affect the incentives of individuals and firms?
• What are the economic and social trade-offs of different types of taxes and taxation systems?
• If we had to raise taxes, which tax would have the least effect on economic activity?
• What are the implications of a Value Added Tax (VAT)?