# Prof. Richard Sylla on the 1940 US census data

1 Faculty News March 31, 2012 ![Barron's logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_031072.jpg?itok=FtY-yu99)>

Excerpt from [Barron's](http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111903715504577305571031291422.html?mod=googlenews_wsj?mod=googlenews_barrons) -- "'Income taxes were quite low, and most people didn't pay them at all,' says [Richard Sylla](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/richard-sylla), professor of economics and financial history at NYU's Stern School of Business. Wages were much lower, too."

[Read more](http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111903715504577305571031291422.html?mod=googlenews_wsj?mod=googlenews_barrons)