Diagnosis Murder: The Death of State Death Taxes

Abstract

Since 1976, more than 30 states have eliminated their “death” taxes and many others have reduced them. This unexplored case of interstate tax competition presents a unique opportunity to develop a new, more satisfying definition of competitor based on historical elderly migration patterns. Using data from 1967 onward, we outline the recent history of state death tax competitio n and present a spatial econometric analysis. Interstate tax competition is evident and grows stronger when using migration‐based definitions of competitors. The article concludes with still more evidence of interstate tax competition—the recent movement by states to effectively revive their death taxes.