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A Treatise of Taxes & Contributions, often shortened to the Treatise on Taxes, is a book written by Sir William Petty (1623-1687) and published in 1662. In this book he tried to lay a theoretical scientific foundation for his visions on economic policy, and he attempted to estimate quantitatively the important elements involved.

William Petty was educated in France and the Netherlands, and got his degree as a physician at Oxford. In 1650 he became a fellow of Brasenose College and soon after he was made Professor of Music at Gresham College, London. In 1651 he was acquainted physician-general to the army of Cromwell in Ireland, and a few years later he undertook the Down Survey, a cadastral survey of large parts of Ireland. He subsequently got involved in different conflicts about the distribution of lands. On this he published his Proceedings between Sankey and Petty (1659) and in 1660 the Reflections upon some Persons and Things in Ireland. In the meantime Petty found time to be one of the founding members of the Royal Society of London for the Improving of Natural Knowledge, in 1660; to write about The History of Clothing and The History of Dyeing, and to publish his Treatise on Taxes. The Treatise is said to be Petty's most important economic work and “deserves to be regarded as a major achievement and landmark in the history of economic thought”.

Bibliographical information
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The Treatise of Taxes was reprinted several times during Petty's life, in 1667 (Keynes 9, Hull 6b), 1679 (two times, Keynes 10, 11; Hull gives only 6c) and 1685 (Keynes 12, Hull 6d). It was again printed in 1689 under a new title: A Discourse of Taxes and Contributions (etc.). (Keynes 13; Hull 6f). Hull also mentions reprints in 1690: A collection Of three state tracts ; of which the third is the Treatise of Taxes (Hull 6e; not in Keynes) and in 1769: Tracts; chiefly relating to Ireland (Hull 6g, linking to Hull 27 = Keynes 64).

The first editions of the Treatise were all published 'anonymously. Petty's name does not appear on the title page until 1690'. (Bevan 1894. He also mentions a 1691 edition, in his 'Bibliography of the Printed Works of Sir William Petty' in Bevan 1894).

Nowadays it is mostly cited from the Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, published in 1899 by Charles Henry Hull (1864-1936)   in two volumes.

First and most important economic work
A Treatise of Taxes and Contributions was Petty's first .... Written and published 1662 (check intro Hull: "probably composed in the early month of 1662" etc.....)

Publication date.... idem

most important: Hutchison p. 29: "deserves to be regarded as a major achievement and landmark in the history of economic thought."

Although Petty wrote a lot, most of his works were not published during his life ..... etc....

Background
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Table of contents
The Treatise contains the following chapters: (see also below – with page nrs of EcWrit1899!)
 * CHAP. I.: Of the several sorts of Publick Charges.
 * CHAP. II.: Of the Causes which encrease and aggravate the several sorts of Publick Charges.
 * CHAP. III.: How the Causes of the unquiet bearing of Taxes may be lessened.
 * CHAP. IV.: Of the several wayes of Taxe, and first, of setting a part, a proportion of the whole Territory for Publick uses, in the nature of Crown Lands; and secondly, by way of Assessement, or Land-taxe.
 * CHAP. V.: Of Usury.
 * CHAP. VI.: Of Customs and Free Ports.
 * CHAP. VII.: Of Poll-money.
 * CHAP. VIII.: Of Lotteries.
 * CHAP. IX.: Of Benevolence.
 * CHAP. X.: Of Penalties.
 * CHAP. XI.: Of Monopolies and Offices.
 * CHAP. XII.: Of Tythes.
 * CHAP. XIII.: Of several smaller wayes of levying Money.
 * CHAP. XIV.: Of raising, depressing, or embasing of Money.
 * CHAP. XV.: Of Excize.

Summary
The first chapter of the Treatise examines the important sorts of public expenditure. Petty tells apart "six Branches of the Publick Charge". The first branch is “that of its defence by land and sea of its peace at home and abroad.” Second came “the maintenance of the governours, cief and subordinate.” The third branch “of the Publick Charge is, that of the Pastorage of mens Souls, and the guidance of their Consciences.” Next came education in schools and universities. Then “Maintenance of Orphans, found and exposed Children, which also are Orphans; as also of Impotents of all sorts, and moreover such as want employment.” The final branch of government expenditure was public works, including highways, aquaducts, bridges, harbours, etc.

The second chapter of the Treatise deals with the causes of the high level of expenditure on the public charges. Petty lists a number of causes that lead to a heavier burden of taxation than necessary. He does recommend for instance fewer and larger parishes, which will lead to less expenditures for the religious establishment. Petty explains that provision against the danger of civil war can be improved by reducing the concentration of wealth in few hands. Regarding physicians, Petty wrote that it was easy to calculate how many physicians the country needs, and consequently how many students had to be permitted.

Petty next turns to the care for the poor and unemployed.

omgekeerd standpunt: niet minder maar meer check

He suggests that the unemployed are put at work in activities like enhancing roads, making rivers better navigable, planting trees for timber and fruit, the building of bridges, work in mines and quarries, production of iron, etc. As to the question "who shall pay these men? I answer, every body; for if there be 1000 men in a Territory, and if 100 of these can raise necessary food and raiment for the whole 1000. If 200 more make as much commodities, as other Nations will give either their commodities or money for, and if 400, more be employed in the ornaments, pleasure, and magnificence of the whole; if there be 200 Governours, Divines, Lawyers, Physicians, Merchants, and Retailers, making in all 900. the question is, since there is food enough for this supernumerary 100. also, how they should come by it?" The only condition concerning the work of these "supernumeraries (is), let it be without expence of Foreign Commodities, and then 'tis no matter if it be employed to build a useless Pyramid upon Salisbury Plain, bring the Stones at Stonehenge to Tower-Hill, or the like; for at worst this would keep their mindes to discipline and obedience, and their bodies to a patience of more profitable labours when need shall require it."

In Chapter III Petty examines the causes of the burden of taxation, and how it can be lessened.