hackertube.io

Milton Friedman - Why Tax Reform Is Impossible

LibertyPen · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Microeconomics & behavioral economicsUS politics & electionsInvesting & personal finance

What it is

Milton Friedman explains why the US tax code is enormously complex and why meaningful reform is unlikely. He argues that politicians profit from the complexity, since tax breaks are products they sell and the code works as a tool of reward and punishment. The clip is about 14 minutes from his lecture series.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters cite it whenever a thread touches on tax complexity, loopholes, or why companies like Intuit benefit from a convoluted tax system.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2013, last 2022

What HN commenters said

  1. “I strongly recommend watching all of it”

    Friedman on why tax reform stays complicated

    tolmasky, 2013-05 · Strong recommendation · in “Apple Pays No Tax on Much of Its Overseas Income, Senate Panel Finds”

  2. “There is a good Milton Friedman video wherein he explains why tax reform won't happen in the United States.”

    Why tax reform won't happen, and a 25% cap proposal

    baddox, 2014-01 · Recommendation · in “Technology and wealth inequality”

  3. “Milton Friedman explains this brilliantly”

    Friedman on why simpler, lower taxes are preferable

    briandear, 2017-04 · Recommendation · in “Uber banned in all of Italy”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: tax reform, milton friedman, politics, regulation, economics

Also recommended by the same people