Property taxation and local government finance /

This collection represents a marvelous tribute to C. Lowell Harris, a grand scholar of government finance of the last half century, reflecting his particular interest in local government finance and property taxation. Oates provides an introductory overview, followed by papers by Fischel, Zodrow, and Nechyba on property tax incidence and its justification as a benefit tax. Other contributors include Wallis on the history of American property taxes; Brucckner on its impact on urban sprawl; O'Sullivan on property tax limitation laws; Evans, Murray, and Schwab on the difficulties that its importance for school finance creates; Duncombe and Yinger on property tax relief mechanisms; and McGuire on alternative sources for local revenue sources. Netzer sums up with reflections on the theory and practice of property taxation. As a conclusion, Harris offers a short set of lessons about property taxation. The essays are excellent, as are the comments provided by a superb cast of discussants, but the most fascinating part of the volume may be the transcript of a conversation with Harris on his life and experiences as a student, academic, and practitioner. This volume examines major controversies and shows why the continued importance of the property tax for local government finance is quite reasonable. Recommended for upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. J. L. Mikesell Indiana University-Bloomington