Stephen Dubner

Let me pause you there for a moment and just reflect on what you just said. The middle class in America is dramatically undertaxed. I would guess that maybe 3% of the people who listen to this show would nod their heads and the other 97% are sure that either they misheard or that you are some kind of fill in the blank with the worst word you can imagine. Don't shoot the messenger, please.

Let me pause you there for a moment and just reflect on what you just said. The middle class in America is dramatically undertaxed. I would guess that maybe 3% of the people who listen to this show would nod their heads and the other 97% are sure that either they misheard or that you are some kind of fill in the blank with the worst word you can imagine. Don't shoot the messenger, please.

How would you characterize the tax rate paid by lower earners in the U.S. ?

How would you characterize the tax rate paid by lower earners in the U.S. ?

How would you characterize the tax rate paid by lower earners in the U.S. ?

Let's take that pyramid from the bottom up now, the lower earners, the middle earners, and the upper earners. What's the best way to give a macro description of the share of tax revenues being gleaned from those three sections?

Let's take that pyramid from the bottom up now, the lower earners, the middle earners, and the upper earners. What's the best way to give a macro description of the share of tax revenues being gleaned from those three sections?

Let's take that pyramid from the bottom up now, the lower earners, the middle earners, and the upper earners. What's the best way to give a macro description of the share of tax revenues being gleaned from those three sections?

Way up, meaning the system has gotten more progressive over time. Substantially more progressive. Have Republicans contributed to that progressivism as much as Democrats or no?

Way up, meaning the system has gotten more progressive over time. Substantially more progressive. Have Republicans contributed to that progressivism as much as Democrats or no?

Way up, meaning the system has gotten more progressive over time. Substantially more progressive. Have Republicans contributed to that progressivism as much as Democrats or no?

Now, to be fair, that net negative federal tax was essentially a tradeoff for lower entitlements, no? Possibly, but entitlement spending is still pretty high up. So let me ask you finally, tell me some favorite tax reforms that you think might work in this country or tax policies from other places and or times.

Now, to be fair, that net negative federal tax was essentially a tradeoff for lower entitlements, no? Possibly, but entitlement spending is still pretty high up. So let me ask you finally, tell me some favorite tax reforms that you think might work in this country or tax policies from other places and or times.

Now, to be fair, that net negative federal tax was essentially a tradeoff for lower entitlements, no? Possibly, but entitlement spending is still pretty high up. So let me ask you finally, tell me some favorite tax reforms that you think might work in this country or tax policies from other places and or times.

Well, let me ask you this. I already brought up the game theorists. There's another sector in economics, the behavioral economists.

Well, let me ask you this. I already brought up the game theorists. There's another sector in economics, the behavioral economists.

Well, let me ask you this. I already brought up the game theorists. There's another sector in economics, the behavioral economists.

One thing that behavioral economists and psychologists like Danny Kahneman and others focus on is the very problem that you've identified, which is people are really bad at making decisions now with the future in mind, whether it's their future self or the future economy and the future debt of their country.

One thing that behavioral economists and psychologists like Danny Kahneman and others focus on is the very problem that you've identified, which is people are really bad at making decisions now with the future in mind, whether it's their future self or the future economy and the future debt of their country.

One thing that behavioral economists and psychologists like Danny Kahneman and others focus on is the very problem that you've identified, which is people are really bad at making decisions now with the future in mind, whether it's their future self or the future economy and the future debt of their country.