Wednesday, November 3, 2004
OECD Releases New Data on Taxes as Percentage of GDP
The OECD has released new data on tax revenues as a percentage of gross domestic product among the 30 OECD countries. Here are the 5 highest tax countries:
Country..........Tax Revenue as % of GDPHere are the 5 lowest tax countries:
1. Sweden.......50.8%
2. Denmark.....49.0%
3. Belgium.......45.8%
4. Finland.........44.9%
5. France..........44.2%
Country..........Tax Revenue as % of GDP
1. Mexico............19.5%
2. U.S.................25.4%
3. Korea.............25.5%
4. Switzerland...29.8%
5. Ireland...........30.0%
https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2004/11/oecd_releases_n.html
Comments
The fact that these figures omit a major form of taxation, namely government-sponsored inflation, render them virtually meaningless. Government spending that dilutes the purchase power of the citizens still represents a transfer of wealth from the private to the public sector. As such, it must be included to bring any measure of integrity to this study.
Posted by: Morpheus | Nov 9, 2004 3:20:03 PM
Paul, can you explain why "Tax Revenue as % of GDP" is such an important measure? In all sincerity, I want to understand why that figure is more important than one more relevant to me, which is the amount of money that I earn but never deposit in my bank account.
Posted by: Steven Brown | Nov 8, 2004 5:58:53 AM
Paul--Do you know whether the calculations include only federal taxes or do they include taxes at all levels? Also, do they include FICA and their analogues? How are medical costs handled? (If I pay a private insurer, it is probably not considered a tax, but if part of my taxes are allocated to government-provided medical care, that is likely not the case. Query: How is the Medicare portion of FICA/SECA in this country treated?)
Posted by: Stuart Levine | Nov 3, 2004 2:42:44 PM
Great info.
http://begalke.us
Posted by: J | Jan 20, 2005 7:13:05 PM