Pharaoh’s famine policy — besides teaching us about nationalization of assets and urbanization  — constitutes an ancient precedent that to this day hasn’t changed much: a government is never quick to reduce the tax burden even when the crisis ends.

Pharaoh’s famine tax remained in effect, even after the seven years of famine were over. Joseph — the COO running Pharaoh’s operations –  tells the Egyptians that from now on when they harvest their land, “you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.”  Though the people were happy to get bread in exchange, there were no plans for future tax reform. Joseph mandates from here on out 20% of earnings go to Pharaoh. This law in the land of Egypt was to last to posterity. (Of course all of this leaves room for discussion about the pros and cons of a flat tax - no convoluted, IRS code in Pharaoh-land!)