Nontaxation and Representation

Kevin M. Morrison is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the co-author of The Future of Development Assistance: Common Pools and International Public Goods (1999). Morrison's academic work has been published in the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, Business and Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, the Development Policy Review, Electoral Studies, International Organization, Perspectives on Politics, Public Choice, the Review of International Organizations, and the World Bank Research Observer. His article in International Organization won the 2009 Robert O. Keohane Award for best paper in that journal by an untenured professor. His opinions and commentary have appeared in the Durham Herald-Sun, the Financial Times, the International Herald Tribune, and the Raleigh News and Observer, and on Slate.com.

1. Introduction; 2. Taxation leads to instability, not representation; 3. Nontax revenue lowers taxation and increases spending; 4. Nontax revenue (therefore) leads to stability; 5. This happens at subnational levels of governments too; 6. Conclusions and implications.