1. President Biden proposed quadrupling the stock buyback tax from 1% to 4%, which would have a negative effect on efficient capital allocation throughout the economy.
2. Stock buybacks don't take money away from pro-growth investments, and they can be put to more productive use than other investments.
3. Increasing the tax on corporate buybacks is bad policy, as it would distort corporate decision making and interfere with the movement of investment capital.
The article “Biden’s Stock Buyback Tax Would Hit the Little Guy - WSJ” provides an overview of President Biden’s proposal to quadruple the stock buyback tax from 1% to 4%. The article argues that this proposed increase would have pernicious consequences for efficient capital allocation throughout the economy by impairing how markets function. It also claims that stock buybacks don’t take money away from pro-growth investments, and that increasing the tax on corporate buybacks is bad policy.
The article appears to be reliable in its presentation of facts and arguments, as it cites sources such as Harvard Business Review and Tax Foundation to support its claims. However, there are some potential biases in the article that should be noted. For example, while it acknowledges that increasing taxes on corporate buybacks could raise revenue for government programs, it does not explore any potential benefits or advantages of doing so. Additionally, while it acknowledges that stockholders who sell their shares use much of the cash received to invest in other companies, it does not explore any potential risks associated with this practice or consider any counterarguments against it. Furthermore, while it acknowledges that most common stock is held by mutual funds and pension plans, it does not provide any evidence or data regarding how these entities might be affected by an increase in taxes on corporate buybacks.
In conclusion, while this article appears to be reliable in its presentation of facts and arguments related to President Biden’s proposed increase in taxes on corporate buybacks, there are some potential biases present which should be noted when considering its trustworthiness and reliability.