Economic Recovery Tax Act


Economic Recovery Tax Act

United States legislation, passed in 1981 and signed by President Ronald Reagan that cut marginal tax rates significantly. For example, it cut the top tax rate from 70% to 50% over three years and the bottom rate from 14% to 11%. The Act was intended to stimulate economic growth by putting more money in people's pockets; this concept is a key component of what became known as Reaganomics. Government revenue declined by nearly 3% of GDP as a result of the Act. It is also called the Kemp-Roth tax cut after its two principal sponsors in Congress.