taxpayersboth

Taxpayersboth is a term used in public finance discourse to describe the dual role of taxpayers as both funders of government and beneficiaries of its services. It is a portmanteau of “taxpayers” and the idea of “both,” signaling the twofold relationship inherent in taxation and public spending.

Origin and usage

The term does not have a formal pedigree in economics. It has appeared sporadically in think-tank briefs, op-eds, and policy discussions since the 2010s. In these contexts, taxpayersboth is used to frame questions of tax policy, accountability, and public spending by emphasizing that taxpayers pay for services and simultaneously rely on those services.

Conceptual interpretations

Some writers treat taxpayersboth as a reminder of the return on public finance—linking revenue to visible outcomes such as infrastructure, safety, education, and social programs. Others describe it as a rhetorical device that foregrounds fairness and value-for-money concerns, suggesting that tax burdens should align with the benefits received. It is sometimes invoked in debates over tax burdens, exemptions, and efficiency.

Critiques

Critics argue that taxpayersboth can be vague or overly rhetorical, risking oversimplification of complex fiscal tradeoffs. Others caution that the term may obscure distributional effects, macroeconomic constraints, and long-term debt dynamics that influence public finance beyond a straightforward payer-beneficiary lens.

See also

Tax incidence, fiscal policy, government accountability, public goods.

References

As a relatively informal term, references are typically policy briefs, opinion pieces, and commentary rather than peer-reviewed economics literature.