Risks to macroeconomic stability posed by excessive private leverage are significantly amplified by tax distortions. 'Debt bias' (tax provisions favoring finance by debt rather than equity) has increased leverage in both the household and corporate sectors, and is now widely recognized as a...

The current fiscal climate is predicated on the notionthat revisions to the tax code would be forthcoming every four years, i.e.,corresponding to the presidential election cycle. While the depth of theadjustments is usually unknown, the probability that adjustments will happen issubstantial. Yet...