Contemporary State Building
Elite Taxation and Public Safety in Latin America

Explains successful contemporary state-building arrangements that lead to difficult-to-achieve elite taxation to improve public safety in Latin America.

Gustavo A. Flores-Macías (Author)

9781009095983, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 December 2023

220 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 1.5 cm, 0.37 kg

'… this book offers something to both researchers and instructors. From a scholarly perspective, it makes a compelling case that is deeply rooted in political economic models of policy making.' James E. Mahon Jr, Perspectives on Politics

If economic elites are notorious for circumventing tax obligations, how can institutionally weak governments get the wealthy to shoulder a greater tax burden? This book studies the factors behind the adoption of elite taxes for public safety purposes. Contrary to prominent explanations in the literature on the fiscal strengthening of the state – including the role of resource dependence and inequality – the book advances a theory of elite taxation that focuses on public safety crises as windows of opportunity and highlights the importance of business-government linkages to overcome mistrust toward government from corruption and lack of accountability. Based on evidence from across Latin America and rich case studies from experiences in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico, the book provides scholars and policymakers with a blueprint for contemporary state-building efforts in the developing world.

I. Introduction: Contemporary state building in Latin America
II. Latin America's elite security taxes
III. A theory of elite taxation and the determinants of security taxes
IV. Colombia's targeted security taxes
V. Costa Rica's “soft” security taxes
VI. El salvador's failed and diffuse taxes
VII. Mexico's uneven security taxes
VIII. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Politics & government [JP]