Optimal tax policy

This is a little wonky, but economists surveyed were asked: 

Despite relabeling concerns, taxing capital income at a permanently lower rate than labor income would result in higher average long-term prosperity, relative to an alternative that generated the same amount of tax revenue by permanently taxing capital and labor income at equal rates instead.

3x as many agreed than disagreed, and this from an academic group that tends to lean left.  Also, there was near unanimity when asked:

Although they do not always agree about the precise likely effects of different tax policies, another reason why economists often give disparate advice on tax policy is because they hold differing views about choices between raising average prosperity and redistributing income.

Which, to my mind, lends even greater credence to the 3x support for the former.

Changes in long-term prosperity really mean changes in growth rates, and over long periods of time that means very large differences.  In other words, achieving some perceived redistribution today in exchange, for - take your pick for what comes with growth - standard of living, access to health, education, peace, happiness, apple pie.  Anyone arguing for redistributively higher taxes on capital should recognize that, assuming the above is true, that's the trade-off you're advocating - feel better about the rich not being quite as rich versus killing future babies.  :-)