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Public attitudes to a wealth tax: the importance of ‘capacity to pay’

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  • Karen Rowlingson
  • Amrita Sood
  • Trinh Tu

Abstract

In this paper, we present findings from the first ever study, to our knowledge, to focus in detail on public attitudes to an annual wealth tax. We start with a brief review of relevant recent studies before outlining the mixed methods used, which involved a nationally representative survey of 2,243 members of the general public and four focus groups conducted during the summer of 2020. The study aimed to measure, explore and explain the overall levels of support for a wealth tax compared with other taxes, the arguments for and against a wealth tax, and opinions on the particular design of such a tax. Key findings include high levels of public support for a wealth tax compared with other taxes, and support for the base of the tax to include financial investments and property wealth (after excluding the main home). The most popular rate/threshold combination is for the tax to be levied at a rate of at least 1 per cent over £500,000. Support for the tax appears to be driven by a combination of rational self‐interest and beliefs about fairness but, in particular, the public are keen for the tax to be focused on those with capacity to contribute the most.

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  • Karen Rowlingson & Amrita Sood & Trinh Tu, 2021. "Public attitudes to a wealth tax: the importance of ‘capacity to pay’," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3-4), pages 431-455, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:fistud:v:42:y:2021:i:3-4:p:431-455
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-5890.12282
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    4. Javier Olivera & Philippe Kerm, 2022. "Public support for tax policies in COVID-19 times: evidence from Luxembourg," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(6), pages 1395-1418, December.
    5. Arun Advani & Helen Miller & Andy Summers, 2021. "Taxes on wealth: time for another look?," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3-4), pages 389-395, September.
    6. Stuart Adam & Helen Miller, 2021. "The economic arguments for and against a wealth tax," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3-4), pages 457-483, September.
    7. Summers, Andy, 2022. "Is it possible to tax the super-rich?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121990, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Ferreira, João V. & Ramoglou, Stratos & Savva, Foivos & Vlassopoulos, Michael, 2024. ""Should CEOs' Salaries Be Capped?" A Survey Experiment on Limitarian Preferences," IZA Discussion Papers 17171, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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