Would a wealth tax raise less revenue while shrinking output and wages?
Core argument: The Penn Wharton Budget Model projects Senator Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax would raise $2.3tn–$2.7tn over 2021–2030, about $1tn less than Warren's team's own revenue projection.
The Penn Wharton Budget Model forecasts that Warren's wealth tax could reduce GDP by 1-2% by 2050, while generating $2.3tn to $2.7tn in additional revenue from 2021 to 2030. This revenue estimate is $1tn less than Warren's team's projection. If the additional revenues are used to reduce the deficit, GDP is projected to decline by 0.9% by 2050. However, if spent on public investments, GDP could fall between 1.1% and 2.1%, depending on investment productivity. Average hourly wages, including those of households not directly subject to the tax, are expected to decrease by 0.8% to 2.3% due to reduced private capital formation.

