The Economic Psychology of Tax Behaviour

Erich Kirchler is a Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Vienna. His research interests include economic psychology, household financial decision-making and tax behaviour, and he has written several books in these areas.

• Foreword Valerie Braithwaite; Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Tax law, the shadow economy and tax non-compliance; 3. Social representations of taxes; 4. Tax compliance decisions; 5. Self-employment and taxpaying; 6. Interaction between tax authorities and taxpayers; 7. Cautious conclusions.

'This is an interesting, comprehensive and excellent examination of the behavioural aspects of tax compliance and evasion ­ based on insights from social and cognitive psychology, behavioural economics, and game theory. Kirchler's book considers the role of economic incentives in tax compliance, but he also argues that factors such as moral considerations, fairness concerns, and the citizens' trust in the state play a crucial role. His broad approach makes the book interesting for both tax authorities and social scientists alike.' Ernst Fehr, Director of the Institute for Empirical Research in Economics, University of Zürich