Why discuss the top marginal tax rate in isolation? You should have added in the 25% VAT on many consumer items... makes it look even worse - great ammunition for all the free market capitalists, and their children ;)
But certainly do not mention that this affects 3% of the population who earn more than 44 900 kr/month (538 800 kr/year), which is:
- almost double GDP per capita (271 574 kr/year);
- more than double the average income in Sweden, even when excluding those under 20, over 64, and only including those that actually have an income (266 494 kr/year);
- more than double the median income in Sweden, 20-64 years old (241 911 kr/year);
- and almost more than double the median income for men, 20-64 years old - because we all know it's men's incomes that are important?! (306 520 kr/year).
The other thing obviously omitted is any reference to what you receive for your taxes in Sweden, which often cost in many other countries - either through up-front payments, private insurance, or levies (cute political name for "another tax when we promise no new taxes"). I could start the list by mentioning:
- free primary, secondary and tertiary education;
- subsidies whilst studying;
- free healthcare;
- pension;
- unemployment benefits;
- parental leave;
... the list goes on I'm sure - these are tax funded privileges that people in many other countries can only dream about. Or, if you're American, you might even fight to prevent - can't even begin to imagine why people are fighting for the rights of insurance companies to make millions (or is it billions?) of profit on sick people... but that's another story.
So, thanks DN for Saturday morning reading with an amazingly biased editorial in your finance section - it got me up on my soap box again, which hasn't happened for a while in this forum - nice to know I still care!
Must be time for a coffee and "Vetenskapsfilosofi" av Bengt Molander... Happy Saturday to you all!
