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NEW BOOK

Back to Taxachusetts?

BUY IT NOW DOWNLOAD FREE EXCERPT FACT SHEET VIDEOS REVIEWS MEDIA

WATCH: Pioneer’s Jim Stergios joined “Keller at Large” for a discussion of the proposed take hike amendment in Massachusetts. Parts 1 and 2 are below.

Back to Taxachusetts?

How the proposed constitutional tax amendment would upend one of the best economies in the nation.

BACK TO TAXACHUSETTS? represents the distillation of 24 studies on the impacts of the income tax proposal before Massachusetts voters this November. The book reviews the experience of states imposing similar taxes and demonstrates how the graduated income tax will devastate Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness and harm retirees, homeowners and small businesses.

BACK TO TAXACHUSETTS reveals the false narratives advanced by the tax’s proponents who portray it as affecting a small number of “millionaires,” funding designated purposes, and remedying Massachusetts’ “regressive” tax regime. Finally, it examines the tax’s impact in a post-pandemic economy, where companies and employees are mobile, states compete for telecommuters, and federal tax policies continue to cap state and local tax deductibility.

Book on the Massachusetts fair share amendment
BUY IT NOW!

Praise for “Back to Taxachusetts?”

“The rise of Zoom and remote work has made it even easier for businesses and highly skilled workers to leave Massachusetts for low or no-tax states like New Hampshire, Florida, and Texas. This book is a must-read for anyone thinking about voting in favor of amending the Constitution to make Massachusetts less business-friendly.”

Edward GlaeserHarvard University

“What could possibly go wrong? The authors identify a myriad of potential unintended consequences from establishing a graduated income tax in Massachusetts. Along the way, they reveal the dynamism of the state’s economy and its people. This book is a must-read for the people of the Commonwealth at this pivotal moment.”

Sara Johnsoneconomist

“Economic success is increasingly a hunt for talent. Back to Taxachusetts? asks a critical question at a critical time — namely, with remote work and wealth mobility at a historic high, why would Massachusetts choose to put itself at a disadvantage in recruiting and retaining a talented workforce?”

Laurence KotlikoffBoston University

Complete the form below to download a FREE excerpt from “Back to Taxachusetts?”

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BACK TO TAXACHUSETTS?

FACT SHEET

BACK TO TAXACHUSETTS?

ABOUT OUR AUTHORS

Greg Sullivan

Greg Sullivan

Gregory Sullivan is Pioneer’s Research Director. Prior to joining Pioneer, Sullivan served two five-year terms as Inspector General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was a 17-year member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Greg is a Certified Fraud Investigator, and holds degrees from Harvard College, The Kennedy School of Public Administration, and the Sloan School at MIT.

Pioneer Institute
Andrew Mikula

Andrew Mikula

Andrew Mikula is a former Economic Research Analyst at Pioneer Institute and current candidate for a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at Harvard University.

Pioneer Institute
Liam Day

Liam Day

Liam Day began his career as a youth worker and teacher, before joining Pioneer Institute as Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships. He left Pioneer and went back into government service at the Boston Public Health Commission, serving for a time as Director of Child and Adolescent Health. He has also worked on, advised and managed campaigns for candidates for state representative, city council and mayor. His op-eds have appeared in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Patriot Ledger. Liam’s first collection of poetry, Afforded Permanence, was selected by the Massachusetts Book Awards as a Best Read of 2015.

Pioneer Institute

Read what they’re saying…

“The rise of Zoom and remote work has made it even easier for businesses and highly skilled workers to leave Massachusetts for low or no-tax states like New Hampshire, Florida, and Texas. This book is a must-read for anyone thinking about voting in favor of amending the Constitution to make Massachusetts less business-friendly.”

Edward GlaeserHarvard University

“What could possibly go wrong? The authors identify a myriad of potential unintended consequences from establishing a graduated income tax in Massachusetts. Along the way, they reveal the dynamism of the state’s economy and its people. This book is a must-read for the people of the Commonwealth at this pivotal moment.”

Sara Johnsoneconomist

“Economic success is increasingly a hunt for talent. Back to Taxachusetts? asks a critical question at a critical time — namely, with remote work and wealth mobility at a historic high, why would Massachusetts choose to put itself at a disadvantage in recruiting and retaining a talented workforce?”

Laurence KotlikoffBoston University

“Massachusetts has finally established itself as a good place to do business. This has taken a lot of time and effort. It has also produced tremendous dividends for the Commonwealth. The notion of returning to Taxachusetts is simply wrongheaded and deleterious.”

William AchtmeyerAcropolis Advisors

“Pioneer nailed it. This comprehensive study mirrors what I regularly faced while competing with other states for business development: Taxes matter. At 5%, Massachusetts is disadvantaged against some states but better than others. At 9%, forget about playing offense, we will be perpetually on defense as our golden egg-laying geese take flight to lower-cost harbors!”

Jay AshMassachusetts Competitive Partnership and former State Economic Development Secretary

“The effects of tax policies and regulations on small businesses and business formation are well known. Pioneer’s study effectively lays out the consequences of the constitutional tax amendment on entrepreneurs and should be heeded.”

John FriarExecutive Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University

“Pioneer Institute has done it again with Back to Taxachusetts? Their findings on the tax amendment proposal are a clear warning about what can go wrong when taxes are set by slogans and emotion, rather than research.”

Peter FormanSouth Shore Chamber of Commerce

“Opinion leaders across the Commonwealth must read this book and understand the consequences of passing this massive tax
hike. Without clear voter education, small business owners will be asking their legislators, associations and chambers of commerce
‘where were you and why didn’t you warn me?’”

Jon B. HurstRetailers Association of Massachusetts

“This book reveals truths that proponents don’t want you to know. The tax ensnares unintended people, even retirees. Promised higher spending on education and transportation disappear. Experiences from other states warn of big taxpayers leaving even faster. The more you tax an activity, the less of it you get. This economic rule may be hard for tax proponents to admit, but it’s not too hard for voters to understand.”

Marc A. Miles, PhDFormer Assistant State Treasurer, State of New Jersey

“The data presented in Back to Taxachusetts? are compelling and frightening. The public must consider the negative effects of this surtax, and the numerous examples of how it backfired elsewhere before making the same mistake here in the Commonwealth.”

John ReganAssociated Industries of Massachusetts

“If you’re somebody who cares about the future of our state, this book gives you all you need to make an informed decision on the graduated income tax proposal. As the authors show again and again, the tax will wreak havoc on the state’s competitiveness and economic well-being.”

Brian ShortsleeveCo-Founder, M33 Growth

Watch:

Media Coverage of “Back to Taxachusetts?”

  • Boston Herald

    Charlie Baker, Pioneer Institute release books this week

  • Hubwonk

    Forsaking Massachusetts’s Miracle: Risking Our Future With Past Mistakes

  • Press Release

    Book Reveals How Tax Hike Amendment Would Damage Commonwealth’s Economic Competitiveness

Learn more about how you can help educate the public about the impact of the proposed graduated income tax!

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BACK TO TAXACHUSETTS? Greg Sullivan, Andrew Mikula, Liam Day Pioneer Institute First 978-0985208660
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