Death, Taxes, and Uncertainty: The Estate Tax in 2010 and Beyond

2010 may be the best year to die, or at least your heirs may think so. Under current law, the estate tax will be eliminated for those who die next year. But the tax is scheduled to return in full force for those who die in later years. With this short-lived repeal only months away, Congress is preparing to take another look at the estate tax. What are the economic effects of the estate tax? Should it be extended, reformed, or abolished?

At this AEI conference, experts will provide a variety of perspectives on these questions. Lily Batchelder, professor of law and public policy at New York University School of Law, will argue that the estate tax promotes fairness and will discuss ways to reform the tax. Kevin A. Hassett, director of economic policy studies at AEI, will discuss the costs imposed on society by the estate tax. Karlyn Bowman, senior fellow at AEI, will chart the nuances of public opinion on this hotly contested issue. AEI resident scholar Alan D. Viard will moderate.

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About the Author

 

Karlyn
Bowman
  • Karlyn Bowman compiles and analyzes American public opinion using available polling data on a variety of subjects, including the economy, taxes, the state of workers in America, environment and global warming, attitudes about homosexuality and gay marriage, NAFTA and free trade, the war in Iraq, and women's attitudes. In addition, Ms. Bowman has studied and spoken about the evolution of American politics because of key demographic and geographic changes. She has often lectured on the role of think tanks in the United States and writes a weekly column for Forbes.com.
  • Phone: 2028625910
    Email: kbowman@aei.org
  • Assistant Info

    Name: Andrew Rugg
    Phone: 2028625917
    Email: andrew.rugg@aei.org

 

Kevin A.
Hassett
  • Before joining AEI, Mr. Hassett was a senior economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and an associate professor of economics and finance at the Graduate School of Business of Columbia University, as well as a policy consultant to the Treasury Department during the George H. W. Bush and Clinton administrations. He served as an economic adviser to the George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign, chief economic adviser to Senator John McCain during the 2000 presidential primaries, senior economic adviser to the McCain 2008 presidential campaign, and economic adviser to the Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign.   Mr. Hassett is a columnist for National Review.

  • Phone: 202-862-7157
    Email: khassett@aei.org
  • Assistant Info

    Name: Emma Bennett
    Phone: 202-862-5862
    Email: emma.bennett@aei.org

 

Alan D.
Viard
  • Alan Viard was a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and an assistant professor of economics at Ohio State University prior to joining AEI. He has also worked for the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Tax Analysis, the White House's Council of Economic Advisers and the Joint Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress. Viard is a frequent contributor to AEI's On the Margin column in Tax Notes. In January 2010, he was named by Tax Notes as a nominee for 2009 Tax Person of the Year. Viard is also the co-author of Progressive Consumption Taxation: The X Tax Revisited published in May 2012.
  • Phone: 202-419-5202
    Email: aviard@aei.org
  • Assistant Info

    Name: Veronika Polakova
    Phone: 202-862-4880
    Email: veronika.polakova@aei.org

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Events Calendar
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    FRI
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Free beer: Liberating libations from ‘Bootleggers and Baptists’

Join us for a discussion of the history and future of federal and state alcohol regulation and competition, followed by a reception with beer, wine, and spirits.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
NCLB sanctions: Tests taken, lessons learned

Join education scholars and practitioners for a discussion about the latest NCLB research and its implications for future education policy.

Thursday, May 23, 2013 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Competing visions of the common good: Rethinking help for the poor

What shared commitments do we have as citizens and neighbors to care for one another? How can a proper ordering of America’s political economy enable the most people to have the best life? At this event, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), a longtime champion of human rights causes, and AEI President Arthur Brooks will join Wallis in addressing these and other questions.

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