Pay Up!
Conservative Myths About Tax Cuts for the Rich

Debunks five myths American conservatives have used for a half-century to justify cutting taxes, especially for corporations and the rich.

John L. Campbell (Author)

9781009595131, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 31 July 2025

256 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.1 cm, 0.51 kg

'Conservatives never tire of arguing that taxes need to be cut, again and again, so as to benefit everyday people. As John Campbell's brilliant book demonstrates, conservatives' arguments rest on deceptive myths that serve mainly the interests of the rich. By debunking these myths through enlightening discussion of how the economy really works, he does the everyday American an invaluable service.' Vivien A. Schmidt, Professor Emerita, Boston University

Since the Reagan era, conservatives in the United States have championed cutting taxes, especially for wealthy individuals and corporations, as the best way to achieve economic prosperity. In his new book, Pay Up!, John L. Campbell shows that while these claims are highly influential, they are also wrong. Using historical and cross-national evidence, the book challenges and refutes every justification conservatives have made for tax cuts – that American taxes are too high; they hurt the economy; they facilitate government waste; they constitute an unfair downward redistribution of income; and they threaten individual freedom – and conversely shows that countries can actually benefit from higher taxes, especially when tax increases fall most heavily on those most able to pay them. Through clear prose and a well-reasoned argument, Campbell's book provides an accessible, engaging, and much-needed perspective on the role of taxes in American society.

1. Conservative Myths About Tax Cuts
2. Too High, or Much Ado About Nothing?
3. Crippling Economic Performance?
4. Waste Not, Want Not?
5. What's Fair?
6. Freedom Under Siege?
7. The Persistence of Myths.

Subject Areas: Constitution: government & the state [JPHC]