Nicolette Milota Makovicky

Lotta Bjorklund-Larsen (co-applicant) Education has garnered increasing attention from governments and policymakers globally, recognized as pivotal for fostering civic engagement and compliance. However, existing approaches often limit understanding to technicalities, neglecting broader societal implications. The Tax, Society, and People project, funded by the GIG program, aims to revolutionize tax education for young teens. Collaborating with the Anthropology of Tax network and Young Citizens, the project offers comprehensive materials transcending economic and legal frameworks. Through six lessons, students explore tax’s societal and cultural dimensions, historical contexts, and transformative effects. Ethnographic vignettes enrich the curriculum, challenging conventional tax narratives and fostering critical thinking. Initially tailored for the UK curriculum, the project aspires to global relevance, adapting to diverse educational contexts worldwide. By amplifying anthropological perspectives on tax, the project seeks to reshape tax discourse, empowering educators, policymakers, and the public to recognize taxation’s broader societal significance. Emphasizing anthropology’s holistic approach, the project advocates for interdisciplinary engagement, urging a shift away from viewing taxation solely through legal or economic lenses. Ultimately, the initiative aims to democratize tax education, promoting a deeper understanding of tax’s role in citizen-state relations and its implications for societal justice and responsibility.