What should be the goal of a tax policy or a government? Maximal total economic output? Equal opportunity for everyone? A low Gini coeffecient?
I think his main point in talking about taxation and government is that there are philosophical assumptions at their roots that affect how you would interpret and use some of the data. As such whether a certain policy is a failure or not is open to debate based on our goals.
The goals should/would be separated from the tax policy. But you need the science to understand what the likely outcomes of the individual policies are.
I think his main point in talking about taxation and government is that there are philosophical assumptions at their roots that affect how you would interpret and use some of the data. As such whether a certain policy is a failure or not is open to debate based on our goals.