Economic Analysis of Tax Policy 2024

The U.S. faces a looming fiscal challenge, with federal debt held by the public projected to rise significantly in the coming decades. As the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds approach exhaustion, the debate intensifies regarding how to address the structural budget deficit. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is committed to providing essential empirical evidence on the economic consequences of various tax increases and spending cuts. Through tools like the TAXSIM model, NBER facilitates research on the impacts of tax policies, offering valuable insights into the trade-offs between tax reforms and household behavior. The NBER’s Tax Policy and the Economy (TP&E) meeting plays a crucial role in disseminating new research findings and fostering dialogue between scholars and policymakers. By analyzing a wide range of current and emerging tax policy issues—ranging from income tax rate changes to new tax treatment of electric vehicles—the TP&E conference informs future policy debates. This research helps policymakers better understand the economic implications of tax proposals and supports the development of evidence-based solutions to the nation's fiscal challenges. The 2024 TP&E meeting will continue this vital work, focusing on the intersection of tax reforms, government spending, and long-term fiscal sustainability.