We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode Could a 2% wealth tax raise £24bn?

Could a 2% wealth tax raise £24bn?

2025/3/26
logo of podcast More or Less: Behind the Stats

More or Less: Behind the Stats
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Aaron Advani
A
Alison Salverson
D
Dan Needle
D
Diane Abbott
J
Jane Goddard
S
Stuart Adam
T
Tim Harford
Topics
Diane Abbott: 我认为应该实施2%的财富税，针对资产超过1000万英镑的人，每年可以筹集240亿英镑。这是解决不断上升的残疾人福利开支的另一种方法。 Aaron Advani: 有效的财富税应该平等对待所有资产，不应有任何豁免。豁免会让富人钻空子，他们会把钱转移到免税或低税率的资产上。我们应该从其他国家的经验教训中学习，避免在设计财富税时犯同样的错误。即使设计完美的财富税，也存在避税的可能性，例如减少在英国居住的时间以降低纳税义务。为了应对一次性冲击（例如疫情），一次性财富税比年度财富税或其他税收调整更有效。 Dan Needle: 国际经验表明，财富税往往因为存在豁免或特殊待遇而效果不佳，最终导致富人少交税，中产阶级多交税。世界上没有完美的财富税，总会存在豁免、限制和特殊情况。与其制定新的财富税，不如改革现有的针对财富的税收制度，例如解决土地税、印花税、市政税和商业税等问题，阻止富人将应税收入转换为资本收益，并阻止富人广泛避税。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter investigates the plausibility of a 2% wealth tax in the UK raising £24 billion, examining the methodology and potential challenges based on a 2020 report by the Wealth Tax Commission and expert opinions. It discusses the complexities of defining wealth, the pitfalls of exemptions, and the international evidence on wealth tax effectiveness. Alternative approaches like a one-off wealth tax are also considered.
  • A 2% wealth tax on assets over £10 million is estimated to raise £24 billion, based on a 2020 Wealth Tax Commission report.
  • Exemptions are detrimental to wealth tax effectiveness, encouraging the wealthy to shift assets.
  • International evidence suggests wealth taxes are often less effective due to loopholes and avoidance strategies.
  • A one-off wealth tax might be more effective than an annual tax, but wouldn't provide ongoing revenue.

Shownotes Transcript

Some Labour politicians have been calling for a wealth tax, claiming a 2% tax could raise £24bn. Where are the numbers from and do they add up?

A listener asked why housing in the UK is the oldest in Europe. We explain what’s going on.

The Office for National Statistics has changed how it measures the value of pensions and knocked £2 trillion off its estimates of wealth. Not everyone thinks it was a good change. We find out why.

And Lent is here, but how long is the Christian fasting period? We look at the history of a very flexible 40 days.

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news, and the world around us.

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Producers: Nathan Gower and Charlotte McDonald Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Sound mix: Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon