Optimal tax the optimum. Stipulating this condition results in the following formula for the optimal top tax rate, if incomes are Pareto distributed: formula_1 where: Empirical estimation of the parameters of this equation suggests that the revenue-maximising top tax rate is between approximately 50% and 80%, although this estimate neglects long-run behavioural responses, which would imply higher elasticities and a lower optimal tax rate. Saez's analysis can also be generalised to tax rates other than the top rate. In the late 1970s, Arthur Laffer developed the Laffer curve, which demonstrates that there are two effects of changing tax rates: an arithmetic effect—if
Arthur Laffer children's books along with Michelle A. Balconi. In 2014 they co-wrote "Let’s Chat About Economics." The second title in the series, "Let’s Chat About Democracy", released in late 2017. Laffer also regularly writes opinion articles in "The Wall Street Journal" and "The Washington Times". The following is a partial list of publications written primarily by Laffer, with co-authors indicated, in order by date: Arthur Laffer Arthur Betz Laffer (; born August 14, 1940) is an American economist who first gained prominence during the Reagan administration as a member of Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981–89). Laffer is best known for