Originally published in 1961, The Ideologies of Taxation is a classic of taxationÑa long-unavailable volume that remains uniquely applicable today. Louis Eisenstein starts from the idea that the tax system in a democracy is shaped by competing factions, each seeking to minimize its burden. Because few people are convinced by appeals to self-interest, factions must give reasons, which are skillfully elaborated into systems of belief or ideologies. EisensteinÕs aim is to examine (and debunk) three major ideologies used to justify various reforms of the tax system. The ideology of ability holds that taxes should be apportioned based on ability to pay and that this is properly measured by income or wealth. The ideology of deterrents is concerned with high taxes on private enterpriseÑlow and flat taxes are desired lest the wealthy reduce their work efforts and savings. The ideology of equity is focused on equal treatment of similarly situated individuals. Eisenstein shows, with sharp wit and an instinct for the jugular, how each of these ideologies is plagued with contradictions, incompleteness, and, in some cases, self-serving claims.

The centennial of the American Law Institute is a landmark event. A lifespan of one hundred years is significant for a law reform project. Most such initiatives terminate when they achieve their limited goals, they fail, or members lose interest when their funding runs out. Instead, the American Law Institute is the preeminent legal reform organisation in the United States and remains an enterprise in full vigour, with an enormous number of projects completed and an impressive array of projects in forward motion. The American Law Institute: A Centennial History brings together an outstanding group of expert scholars, several of them current or former Reporters for the ALI Restatements of Law, to provide an in-depth scholarly history of the ALI, its role in legal reform, and the various ways it has impacted law in the United States. The resulting collection of essays provides original and important perspectives on both the ALI and its relevance for American Law. This book offers a window into the course of legal thought over the past century and is a must-read for academics, practitioners, and all those interested in the way laws are shaped within the United States.