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1 Mark Robyn, et al., Sales Tax Holidays: Politically Expedient but Poor Tax Policy 1 (2011)

handle is hein.taxfoundation/srbicxz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: uly 21
11a.k Roby EnctieSu                        mr                              shopping. In 2011, 17 states will conduct sale
tafEconomist                                                               tax holidays, down from a peak of 19 states i
ficah Cohen            Sales tax holidays are periods of time when        20 10 (see Table 1).
djunct Scholar         selected goods are exempted from state (and
)seph Henchman          sometimes local) sales taxes. Such holidays have       At first glance, sales tax holidays seem likc
'ce President ofI~egal 6-  become an annual event in many states, with   great policy. They enjoy broad political suppo'
ate Pojects          exemptions for such targeted products as back-     with backers arguing that holidays are a highl)
to-school supplies, clothing, computers, hur-      visible form of tax cut and provide benefits to
ricane preparedness supplies, products bearing     low-income consumers. Politicians and other
the U.S. government's Energy Star label, and       supporters routinely claim that sales tax holi-
even guns. High-tax New York State sparked         days improve sales for retailers, create jobs, an,

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to discourage border   promotc