In living (for some), 80%+ tax rates have been used and tax was very high for about 5 decades:<p><pre><code>  - the top marginal rate of tax was 62% in 1932 (up from 25% in 1931)
  - rising to 91% in 1963 (income over $200k)
  - It was at 70% in 1981 (before dropping to 50% in 1982)
</code></pre>
<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;taxfoundation.org&#x2F;article&#x2F;us-federal-individual-income-tax-rates-history-1913-2013-nominal-and-inflation-adjusted-brackets" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;taxfoundation.org&#x2F;article&#x2F;us-federal-individual-incom...</a><p>and a graph here:
<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;visualizingeconomics.com&#x2F;blog&#x2F;2010&#x2F;02&#x2F;04&#x2F;historical-marginal-income-tax-rates" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;visualizingeconomics.com&#x2F;blog&#x2F;2010&#x2F;02&#x2F;04&#x2F;historical-m...</a><p>Though I can find very little that talks about the affects of this taxation on society.