Actually the estate tax affects more people than just those who can't avoid paying it. Individually owned businesses and farms, for instance, are often sold to a big firm or agribusiness when the owner reaches retirement, to avoid sticking the owner's heirs with estate taxes. When that happens, employees lose their jobs, and the degree of concentration in the economy increases. The efforts used to avoid estate taxes affect many people, not just those who actually pay them.
The 'death tax" is one of the most evil taxes levied by states and the Feds.
Individually owned businesses and farms, for instance, are often sold to a big firm or agribusiness when the owner reaches retirement, to avoid sticking the owner’s heirs with estate taxes.
My experience is they are sold because the heirs don’t want to run the business. Farmers kids would rather have the cash than farm it.