Photo: wsilverI played Life with some grandkids today, a much revised game from what I played with my kids. The paychecks you receive as you move along the board are taxed at a constant marginal tax rate of 50 percent, with an exemption of $10,000 of income.
As such it mirrors fairly closely some flat-tax proposals, except the tax rate is far above what flat-tax advocates would like. The tax system in the game is neutral after the lowest income level, but the property system favors the rich: except for one outlier in the middle range of house values, the expected percentage return on buying houses rises with their purchase price. Perhaps the game is realistic — it seems to favor the already rich!
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I played LIfe with my 9 year old daughter and it was hilarious to hear her outraged comments: “What do you mean I have to pay to have my car repaired – it’s not my fault I was in an accident” or “I don’t want any kids – they’re way too expensive” (and then being quite unhappy to end up with twins)….
It seems like in the older version kids were a big bonus, especially at the end. I remember wanting a carload of pink and blue pegs. Apparently none of them ate or went to college. Or argued.
I’m waiting for the Freakonomics-branded game of Life where it matters what you name your pegs.
“Perhaps the game is realistic — it seems to favor the already rich!”
Yeah, and they make sure no one can become rich via a 50% tax rate. Perfect for educating children that only suckers actually produce anything for a living in today’s Soviet America.
well, there’s gotta be some way to indoctrinate our youth