How Would Proposed Tax Plans Affect the Country’s Economy?
We’re just days away from the election and it’s likely that most Americans will just be happy that it’s finally over, no matter whom or what they voted for. However, there are some very important things at stake in this election, including how each candidate’s tax proposals would affect our nation’s economy, as well as the affect on individual taxpayers’ pocket books.
The overwhelming belief is that Donald Trump’s tax plan would be simpler than the current code and that it would help the wealthy, while increasing the national debt. As you might expect, Hillary Clinton’s proposals would be basically the opposite. Her tax plan is reportedly more complex and it’s expected to increase taxes on just about everyone, with the wealthiest taxpayers absorbing the brunt of the increase.
However, that being said, neither candidate has to stick to his or her proposed plans if elected. Additionally, the bigger question is how would these plans really affect the economy if they were implemented? The nation’s debt is rising and it will likely continue to raise no matter which candidate is elected. That means people and businesses, especially small ones, will be footing the bill.
According to the Tax Foundation, which typically opposes tax hikes on the wealthy, Clinton’s plan to increase taxes on investment and businesses would likely reduce the size of economy by about 2.6 percent over 10 years. Much of that would come from her desire to increase the estate tax. According to the Tax Foundation that increase would likely cause wealthy taxpayers to invest lest money and thus would hold down the entire economy. That, in turn, would force the average income in the country to go down.
On the other hand, those who believe tax increases on the wealthy are favorable to the economy claim that the Tax Foundation’s estimates are exaggerated and that the economy would not be significantly damaged by Clinton’s proposals.
You also might like the article Trump, Clinton and the Wealthy—What’s at Stake
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/13/what-hillary-clintons-tax-plan-would-really-do-to-the-economy/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/garrettgunderson/2016/10/13/clinton-versus-trump-how-their-tax-plans-will-affect-you/#76f963cd3346
The Great Estate & Gift Tax Showdown of 2026
1. Background Current Law (2025): As of 2025, the U.S. federal estate tax imposes a 40% tax on the value of estates and lifetime gifts exceeding a unified lifetime exemption of about $13.99 million per individual (double for a married couple using “portability”)[1]. This exemption – also applicable to the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax –…
Redefining Wealth With Purpose
How Brad Connors Is Redefining Wealth With Purpose From Tragedy to Triumph When Brad Connors speaks about financial purpose, he’s not reciting a corporate mantra—he’s reliving a lifetime of lessons. At just two years old, Connors lost his father in a car accident that also left him hospitalized with a collapsed lung. That tragedy, coupled…
Marc Henn on Building True Wealth: Beyond Portfolios and Toward Purpose
When Marc Henn launched Harvest Financial Advisors nearly two decades ago, he wasn’t trying to reinvent the financial-services wheel. He was trying to realign it. After more than 35 years in the industry, Henn had seen what he calls the “black marks” of the profession—transactional mindsets, one-off sales, and the steady erosion of authentic client…
Beyond the Exit: Alex Bean on Why True ROI Means Return on Impact
Beyond the Exit: Why Divvy’s Alex Bean Believes True ROI Means Return on Impact For most entrepreneurs, selling a billion-dollar company would be the final chapter—the ultimate validation of long nights and relentless ambition. For Alex Bean, co-founder of Divvy, that milestone became only the beginning of a deeper journey. In 2016, Bean and longtime friend Blake Murray launched…