Edward Elgar Publishing The Kennedy–Johnson Tax Cut: A Revisionist History

The 1964 Kennedy-Johnson tax cut is often cited as the single most successful application of Keynesian stabilization policy. The author challenges this orthodox historical view by exposing the haphazard planning, simplistic economic theorizing, irreconcilable numerical projections, and partisan political influences on the Council of Economic Advisers. The focus of the book is on the decisions, advice and actions of the three Chairmen of the Council during the 1960s: Walter Heller, Gardner Ackley and Arthur Okun. They were the authors of the ambitious and optimistic new economics that attempted to manipulate aggregate demand in the US economy to reach potential output. By 1965 this goal was achieved, but when Vietnam War spending and Great Society programs were added to the tax cut, the subsequent policy paralysis in the face of a surging economy clearly indicated a lack of symmetry in fiscal policy implementation. Much of the evidence for this revisionist view comes from the participants own statements in the form of White House memoranda and confidential reports as well as from counter-factual exercises that allow alternative policies or swifter responses. This book will be of great interest to macroeconomists as well as to scholars and students interested in economic history and in the formulation and implementation of economic policy. Review '. . . an important contribution to the study of fiscal policy in the post-World War II era and a useful complement to other analyses of the subject under various circumstances. . . It also provides a positive critique of stabilisation policies by giving several suggestions for their successful design and implementation. Moreover, the chapters of the book include the data used in some of the econometric testing, allowing the interested reader to replicate the results obtained, thus providing valuable teaching material.' -- Esteban Perez, Economic Record'. . . Prachowny's book is a welcome addition to the literature on American fiscal policy history. . . . Prachowny has provided a valuable addition to the literature, one well researched and documented.'– Richard Vedder, EH Net About the Author Martin F.J. Prachowny, Professor of Economics, Queen’s University, Canada