The Billionaire Tax - Prop 40 Debate - Saez vs. Kahn

Event details Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM Location: Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience (MCB) - 101 - 1002 West Childs Way Los Angeles, CA, 90089 Cost: FREE Type: Lecture / Talk / Workshop Campus: University Park Campus Department: Campus Humanities, Department of Economics Audience: Students, Alumni, Faculty/Staff About this event Would a wealth tax raise billions for California — or cost the state in the long run? California voters will decide this November whether to impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of the state’s billionaires, with most of the proceeds going to health care. The measure could raise tens of billions of dollars, but it could also reduce future state tax revenue if some of California’s wealthiest residents leave the state. Join two leading economists for a live debate over Proposition 40 and its potential impact on California. Moderated by USC Professor David Schonholzer. This debate is presented by the USC Economics Association and Omicron Delta Epsilon in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project. ***WHEN?*** Tuesday October 13, 12:00pm - 1:15pm ***WHERE?*** In person - USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience (MCB) 101 - no registration needed; just show up Zoom - https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fMRuwX4KSaqeiU3L2CUzfw#/registration ***WHO?*** EMMANAUEL SAEZ Professor of Economics, UC Berkeley Director, Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality MATTHEW E. KAHN Provost Professor of Economics and Spatial Sciences, USC DAVID SCHONHOLZER (moderator) Assistant Professor of Economics, USC From the CA Voter Guide: "PROP 40 IMPOSES ONE-TIME TAX ON CERTAIN TAXPAYERS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Imposes 5% tax on certain taxpayers with assets over $1 billion; revenue primarily for health care. Exempts revenues from constitutional requirements for school funding and spending limit. Fiscal Impact: Temporary revenue increase of tens of billions of dollars spread over several years from wealth tax on billionaires. Possible ongoing decrease of less than $1 billion per year in income tax revenue from billionaires. Supporters: US Senator Bernie Sanders; SEIU United Healthcare Workers West Opponents: California Primary Care Association; California School Boards Association; California Taxpayers Association" No registration needed to attend in person. Just show up. To watch on Zoom, please register at https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fMRuwX4KSaqeiU3L2CUzfw#/registration Official event details: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/debate-prop-40-the-billionaire-tax-saez-vs-kahn