John Stuart Mill?s System of Taxation reconsidered

Michel S. Zouboulakis

HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND POLICY, 2026, vol. 2026/1, issue 1, 149-159

Abstract: J.S. Mill?s tax theory and policy is commonly apprehended as aiming to preserve a maximum of incentives for accumulation, and longterm distributive justice. We believe that this assessment overemphasizes the liberal aspects of his economic analysis as against his broader Utilitarian perspective in policy matters. Mill?s fiscal policy was closely related to his strategy of political and social reform aiming at the elevation of mankind. This article aims to reconsider Mill?s system of taxation within the Classical School, under his three inseparable philosophical traits, i.e. Liberalism, Utilitarianism and Social Reformism. After reviewing the Classical principles of taxation of Smith and Ricardo, we present Mill?s own viewpoints on various categories of taxation, namely income, property and consumption, hoping that his ideas may eventually enrich this perennial debate.

JEL-codes: B12 H20 I30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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