Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Paying Taxes May Make People Happy

As odd as it may seem, that is the conclusion being drawn from a new study from University of Oregon. "Paying taxes can make citizens happy," claimed Ulrich Mayr, a professor of psychology. The study found that two reward-related areas of the brain lit up during a taxation test. These areas typically are activated when some one experiences feelings of satisfaction, such as after having eaten a meal. "The fact that mandatory transfers to a charity elicit activity in reward-related areas suggests that even mandatory taxation can produce satisfaction for taxpayers," the study said. For more information on the study check out CBC News.