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A study by a team of interdisciplinary University researchers revealed that although people appear to dread paying taxes, they may actually feel some satisfaction in doing so
by Steven R. Neuman | News Editor
"The type of data you get from an FMRI machine is just really rich," Burghart said. "I think it's cool, although that might sound geeky."
The study, "Neural Responses to Taxation and Voluntary Giving Reveal Motives for Charitable Donations" published in the June 7 edition of Science magazine, has garnered an avalanche of attention from bloggers on the Internet and the mainstream media. Some of the criticism has been misdirected, Mayr said.
"The message that's gotten out is 'You feel better by paying taxes,'" Mayr said. "The real world isn't as simple as that."
Harbaugh noted that only after reading some of the "right-wing blogs" did he realized how many people say they hate paying taxes. Nevertheless, he pointed out that most people pay taxes willingly out of a sense of duty or civic obligation because the odds of being audited by the Internal Revenue Service are too low to act as a deterrent.
"It sort of took on a life of its own," Harbaugh said. "I knew this was a cool study, but the reaction has been (larger than expected). I think our 15 minutes are almost up."
Contact the news editor at sneuman@dailyemerald.com
The study, "Neural Responses to Taxation and Voluntary Giving Reveal Motives for Charitable Donations" published in the June 7 edition of Science magazine, has garnered an avalanche of attention from bloggers on the Internet and the mainstream media. Some of the criticism has been misdirected, Mayr said.
"The message that's gotten out is 'You feel better by paying taxes,'" Mayr said. "The real world isn't as simple as that."
Harbaugh noted that only after reading some of the "right-wing blogs" did he realized how many people say they hate paying taxes. Nevertheless, he pointed out that most people pay taxes willingly out of a sense of duty or civic obligation because the odds of being audited by the Internal Revenue Service are too low to act as a deterrent.
"It sort of took on a life of its own," Harbaugh said. "I knew this was a cool study, but the reaction has been (larger than expected). I think our 15 minutes are almost up."
Contact the news editor at sneuman@dailyemerald.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Marvin McConoughey
Marvin McConoughey
posted 6/25/07 @ 6:27 AM PST
Thanks for an excellent report, Reporter Steven R. Neuman. I agree that paying taxes is satisfying. The satisfaction comes in part from honorably fulfilling a legal obligation and in part from "buying" security against potential adverse tax audits. (Continued…)
dorothy
posted 6/25/07 @ 7:04 PM PST
Marvin,The more money you give to taxes,the more it is abused and wasted;the LESS MONEY you give to taxes,the more it is NOT wasted.This is a RULE which works in society very well. (Continued…)
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