Tax Impacts, Deceptive Numbers, and Predictive Animals

The chapter explores the effects of payroll taxes, particularly the National Insurance increase, on wage costs, compares proposed tax rises and their job impacts, and examines the debate around VAT progressiveness and the UK's VAT system. It also delves into the deceptive nature of numbers, discussing 'Proofiness' and Potemkin numbers that mislead, and touches on disestimation in distorting reality with flawed measurements. Additionally, it discusses the manipulation of data presentation, using animals like Jack and Paul the Octopus to illustrate the importance of considering failures alongside successes in predictions.