Taxes and Government Spending ANNOTATION
Describes how federal, state, and local governments tax citizens, the different kinds of taxes, and how tax revenues are spent. Also explains how federal spending affects the national economy and discusses the federal deficit.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Most of us are familiar with the sales tax--the extra money that we pay when we buy something at a store. But what about other kinds of taxes? In this book, finance consultant Andrea Lubov explains that U.S. citizens pay billions of dollars every year in income, sales, property, and Social Security taxes.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
Lubov sets out to educate readers about how our governing bodies make decisions about collecting and spending tax monies. Adam Smith's theories of taxation are explored, as are concepts of collective and market goods, recession, inflation, and deficit spending. Young readers might appreciate Lubov's attempt to personalize the message, but the topic of taxation is difficult--even to seasoned taxpayers, let alone the uninitiated. The explanation of the national debt and GNP lacks graphs or charts (instead, there is a photo of a bakery); likewise, a discussion of progressive and regressive taxes is not accompanied by graphics. The information is accurate, but an uneven and sometimes clumsy writing style (used to avoid sexist pronouns) detracts from the content. Barbara Sapinsley's Taxes (Watts, 1986) is for slightly older readers, but students and teachers may prefer it as a basic source on the topic of taxation. --Miriam Hansen, Eau Claire Public Schools, WI
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