---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History shows that tax increases during a…"
description: "\"History shows that tax increases during a recession are a recipe for greater unemployment and economic loss.\" — Pete Sessions"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg"
---

#  History shows that tax increases during a recession are a…

![“History shows that tax increases during a recession are a recipe for greater unemployment and economic loss.” quote by Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg)

> “History shows that tax increases during a recession are a recipe for greater unemployment and economic loss.”

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Higher taxes in downturns can worsen job loss and shrink the economy.

**In simple terms:** Tax hikes in recessions hurt jobs and growth.

Key Takeaway

Avoid raising taxes during recessions.

Themes

economics tax policy recession employment government fiscal policy

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

policy economic

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- legislative debates
- business forecasting
- policy analysis

Key Concepts

Keynesian economics supply‑side public finance

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives can fund deficits without raising taxes?
- How do tax cuts affect long‑term debt?

A Different Perspective

Higher taxes may fund essential services, limiting options.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Recession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recession/) [Recessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recessions/) [Tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax/) [Tax increases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax-increases/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Unemployment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployment/)

## Related quotes

> [“The received wisdom is that risk increases in the recession and falls in booms. In contrast, it may be more helpful to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-crockett/the-received-wisdom-is-that-risk-increases-in-the-recession-and-falls/)

Andrew Crockett

> [When we reject unemployment as an economic instrument as we do and when we reject also superficial remedies, as socialists must, then we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callaghan/when-we-reject-unemployment-as-an-economic-instrument-as-we-do-and/)

[James Callaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callaghan/)

> [There are tax increases throughout this Obamacare thing. It is just an expansion of government for the purposes of redistribution of wealth, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-tax-increases-throughout-this-obamacare-thing-it-is-just-an/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I'm against tax increases on anyone, period, end of debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cole/i-m-against-tax-increases-on-anyone-period-end-of-debate/)

[Tom Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cole/)

> [If the Republican Party continues to take the view that there must be no tax increases, we're stuck. Capitalism can't work without safety nets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/if-the-republican-party-continues-to-take-the-view-that-there-must-be/)

[Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/)

> [Tax increases slow economic growth. Why would you raise taxes? We need to reform spending, the tens of trillions of unfunded liabilities can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/tax-increases-slow-economic-growth-why-would-you-raise-taxes-we-need/)

[Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/)

> [I'm for tax reform, not tax increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/i-m-for-tax-reform-not-tax-increases/)

[Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/)

> [There are several reasons to oppose tax increases. First, every dollar of tax increase is a dollar you didn't get in spending restraint. Two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/there-are-several-reasons-to-oppose-tax-increases-first-every-dollar/)

[Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/)

> [The Obama administration's large and sustained increases in debt raise the specter of another financial crisis and large future tax increases, further chilling business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hubbard/the-obama-administration-s-large-and-sustained-increases-in-debt/)

[Glenn Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hubbard/)

> [I think we can have some tax reform, but that doesn't mean tax increases. We ought to make the, the rates flatter. We ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-think-we-can-have-some-tax-reform-but-that-doesn-t-mean-tax/)

[John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/)

> [Today, and I'm very strongly against tax increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/today-and-i-m-very-strongly-against-tax-increases/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Obama Supporters Angry Over Tax Increases. I knew it. They were dumb enough to think it would only be the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obama-supporters-angry-over-tax-increases-i-knew-it-they-were-dumb/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [POTUS already got tax increases. Now he wants more tax increases to fund more bloated government spending. Not going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/potus-already-got-tax-increases-now-he-wants-more-tax-increases-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ Everything \[Ronald Reagan\] got, the tax cuts, he had Democrats outnumbering him in the House and Senate everywhere. There were certain realities that he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/everything-ronald-reagan-got-the-tax-cuts-he-had-democrats/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [“Tax increases don’t eliminate deficits they increase govt. spending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/tax-increases-don-t-eliminate-deficits-they-increase-govt-spending/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

## More by Pete Sessions

> [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [The United States can no longer rely upon foreign nations such as China to bail us out of our economic irresponsibility. We must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-united-states-can-no-longer-rely-upon-foreign-nations-such-as/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [The entire issue is that women bear a disproportionate share of the hard work. Birthing, carrying, the whole thing - it's hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-entire-issue-is-that-women-bear-a-disproportionate-share-of-the/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [The purpose of the minority is to become the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-purpose-of-the-minority-is-to-become-the-majority/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [If you look at what is happening in Republican conventions across the country, they are energized. And the message is really the same -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/if-you-look-at-what-is-happening-in-republican-conventions-across-the/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [Tax cuts create more jobs and this is something we as Republicans have to do a better job of marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/tax-cuts-create-more-jobs-and-this-is-something-we-as-republicans/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [Our nation's Social Security Trust Fund is depleting at an alarming rate, and failure to implement immediate reforms endangers the ability of Americans to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/our-nation-s-social-security-trust-fund-is-depleting-at-an-alarming/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [The government should not pick up every single bit of healthcare to where literally 60 percent of every dollar is just in your last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-government-should-not-pick-up-every-single-bit-of-healthcare-to/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [You know, I think that President Obama is a person who has a great relationship with a number of people. Colin Powell does, too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/you-know-i-think-that-president-obama-is-a-person-who-has-a-great/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [As families and small businesses alike are tightening their belts to account for the worsening economy, they have every right to ask: 'Why isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/as-families-and-small-businesses-alike-are-tightening-their-belts-to/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [Americans know that we cannot tax and spend our way out of a recession, yet Democrats cant grasp this simple fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/americans-know-that-we-cannot-tax-and-spend-our-way-out-of-a/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [ \[The Democrats'\] vision for the future: socialized medicine and Washington-run health care. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-democrats-vision-for-the-future-socialized-medicine-and/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [I love you and believe in you. If you want my ear/voice — e-mail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-love-you-and-believe-in-you-if-you-want-my-ear-voice-e-mail/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

> [We have to allow people in the states to make their own decisions, to get government agencies out of the way and let local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/we-have-to-allow-people-in-the-states-to-make-their-own-decisions-to/)

[Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

[Explore all 23 Pete Sessions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/)

## More Economic quotes

> [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/)

[Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/)

[Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/)

> [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/)

[Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/)

> [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/)

F. A. Harper

> [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

> [In short, both experience and economic theory imply that the US could now t to a more competitive dollar without experiencing either increased inflation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/in-short-both-experience-and-economic-theory-imply-that-the-us-could/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/)

[Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/)

> [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/)

[Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/)

Browse all 6,235 Economic quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "History shows that tax increases during a recession are a recipe for greater unemployment and economic loss.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pete Sessions"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/history-shows-that-tax-increases-during-a-recession-are-a-recipe-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Economic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/history-shows-that-tax-increases-during-a-recession-are-a-recipe-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/pete-sessions-25044_economic_history-shows-that-tax-increases-during_1581611.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“History shows that tax increases during a recession are a recipe for greater unemployment and economic loss.” — Pete Sessions",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Pete Sessions",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "History shows that tax increases during...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/history-shows-that-tax-increases-during-a-recession-are-a-recipe-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/history-shows-that-tax-increases-during-a-recession-are-a-recipe-for/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
