Research methods in taxation history

Frecknall-Hughes, Jane

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to consider the research methods used in taxation history, which is an area that has attracted increased academic interest in recent years. The paper looks at the various routes that may provide an entry into studying taxation generally and at the inherently interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary nature of the subject. If taxation is researched through different disciplinary lenses, the focus of research changes, which brings to the forefront questions about the most appropriate research methods to use – questions which become more complex when taxation history is considered, along with fact that the different disciplines have their own histories which may themselves impact on taxation history research. The paper looks in detail at social science research methods, also legal research (as ‘different’ from other social science disciplines to which taxation is linked), as well as history and legal history, to evaluate research methods used in those areas. It shows that tax history can be researched in several ways from different perspectives, which show an underlying rigour and more similarity than is at first apparent.

Citation

Frecknall-Hughes, J. (2016). Research methods in taxation history. Review of behavioral economics, 3(1), 5-20. https://doi.org/10.1561/105.00000041

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 23, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Apr 20, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 20, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 25, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 20, 2016
• Journal: Review of behavioral economics
• Electronic ISSN: 2326-6201
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 5-20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1561/105.00000041
• Keywords: Taxation
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/411462
• Publisher URL: http://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/RBE-0041
• Additional Information: Author's accepted manuscript of article: Jane Frecknall-Hughes (2016), "Research Methods in Taxation History", Review of Behavioral Economics: Vol. 3: No. 1, pp 5-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/105.00000041