Comments on: Does Complexity Have Regressive Social Effects? http://6ampacific.com/2009/08/30/does-complexity-have-regressive-social-effects/ Basab Pradhan's weblog about business and life in a 'flat world'. 6 AM Pacific is the best time for a global conference call. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:03:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Basab Pradhan http://6ampacific.com/2009/08/30/does-complexity-have-regressive-social-effects/comment-page-1/#comment-16436 Basab Pradhan Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:08:45 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/?p=503#comment-16436 RJ - touche! Yes, a flat tax is simpler but the reason we don't have flat taxes is that they aren't progressive. Perhaps I should say that the unintended consequence of many complex taxes and regulations is that they come with a degree of regressiveness. RJ – touche! Yes, a flat tax is simpler but the reason we don't have flat taxes is that they aren't progressive. Perhaps I should say that the unintended consequence of many complex taxes and regulations is that they come with a degree of regressiveness.

]]> By: RJ http://6ampacific.com/2009/08/30/does-complexity-have-regressive-social-effects/comment-page-1/#comment-16435 RJ Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:51:34 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/?p=503#comment-16435 Ah... Basab... I am midlly surprised to see you making an effective argument for the flat tax as a fair tax :--) Ah… Basab… I am midlly surprised to see you making an effective argument for the flat tax as a fair tax :–)

]]> By: 6 AM Pacific » Blog Archive » Financial Transaction Tax http://6ampacific.com/2009/08/30/does-complexity-have-regressive-social-effects/comment-page-1/#comment-16428 6 AM Pacific » Blog Archive » Financial Transaction Tax Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:49:23 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/?p=503#comment-16428 [...] Flexible Spending Account. While I think that FSA is a poorly designed, regressive tax deduction (I wrote about it earlier this month) it will definitely hurt some middle class tax payers. Keeping in mind the [...] [...] Flexible Spending Account. While I think that FSA is a poorly designed, regressive tax deduction (I wrote about it earlier this month) it will definitely hurt some middle class tax payers. Keeping in mind the [...]

]]> By: Nat Ramachandran http://6ampacific.com/2009/08/30/does-complexity-have-regressive-social-effects/comment-page-1/#comment-16420 Nat Ramachandran Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:40:18 +0000 http://6ampacific.com/?p=503#comment-16420 You say: "Complexity can sometimes be introduced deliberately to take advantage of the consumer (credit card fine print, for instance)." I am not sure if everyone has to read their card member agreement (i.e., the fine print) to understand that they are being taken care of. One could arrive at such information through historical experience or hear say or from the experience of those that surround us. Even though it has been informatively provided for the benefit of the card account holder, there is a lack of responsibility on their part to read them. Most of us don't read complex things because (a) we assume it doesn't apply to us or (b) we are confident that we will not be caught in the fine print. (Much like the US thought that since 1945 there had been no attacks on its shores that one wouldn't happen at all.) You say: "Complexity can sometimes be introduced deliberately to take advantage of the consumer (credit card fine print, for instance)."

I am not sure if everyone has to read their card member agreement (i.e., the fine print) to understand that they are being taken care of. One could arrive at such information through historical experience or hear say or from the experience of those that surround us. Even though it has been informatively provided for the benefit of the card account holder, there is a lack of responsibility on their part to read them.

Most of us don't read complex things because (a) we assume it doesn't apply to us or (b) we are confident that we will not be caught in the fine print. (Much like the US thought that since 1945 there had been no attacks on its shores that one wouldn't happen at all.)

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