Equality Trust에서 2014년 6월에 펴낸 보고서
- 소득세 최고세율 인하는 경제적 불평등을 심화한다
- 세율과 경제 성장과의 관련성은 미미 하거나 거의 없다
- 세율과 고소득자의 일의 양과는 관련이 없다
- 소득세 최고세율을 인상하면 고소득자의 보수가 줄어들고, 광범위한 경제사회적 이득이 있다
- 소득세 최고세율을 50%로 인상할 것을 권고
COURSE CORRECTION
THE PRE-DISTRIBUTIVE CASE FOR THE 50P TOP INCOME TAX RATE
- A cut in the top income tax rate is associated with an increase in economic inequality through a pre-tax increase in the income share of the top 1%
- A majority of voters, for all three of the UK’s main political parties, support the top 1% paying a higher proportion of their income in tax
- There is little or no relationship between tax rates and economic growth. There is only a proven relationship in the case of very high taxes of above 80%
- There may be no link between tax rates and the amount worked by high-income individuals
- Very high rates of taxation (approximately 80%) could reduce incoming migration of high-income individuals and increase outgoing migration of high-income individuals
- Higher taxation may reduce the incentive for high-income individuals to bargain for higher salaries than is warranted by the productivity they provide for their employers
- The pay of senior managers increases just as fast due to factors outside their control as to those within their control, and yet it does not fall at the same rate due to those outside factors.
- Taken as a whole, the evidence provides a compelling case that a higher top rate of income tax could reduce high pay and, in doing so, deliver wider economic and social benefits.
The report recommends that the top rate of income tax should be raised to 50%, primarily for its pre-distributive effects for our economy rather than the extra revenue it may raise.
