A “Comprehensive Tax Base” as a Goal of Income Tax Reform

Taking issue with those who contend that the income on whichtaxes are paid should be the same as what an economist would consider net income, Professor Bittker urges that a neutral, scientificmeasure of taxable income is a mirage. In many of the vexedareas of income definition, the concept of economic income yieldsno help; in others, it implies results from which even its proponentswould recoil. There is no touchstone for tax reform: proposalsmust be considered provision by provision and policy by policy,on their particular merits