Market distribution, fiscal distribution and inequality: a case study of Britain
chapter
posted on 2014-08-08, 08:44authored byJeremy Leaman
Widening social disparities represent a fundamental danger to the viability
of civilized societies. They are corrosive of social solidarity and economically
dysfunctional. Combatting such disparities should be a primary function of modern
democratic states. The task is multi-faceted, however, and not simply confined to
the optimal use of state transfers to increase the household income of the poorest
sections of society. This chapter focuses, in particular, on the need to reverse the
widening of market income disparities typical of the neoliberal era, as well as the
priority of guaranteeing sufficient tax revenues for states to eradicate the evils of
poverty and social deprivation. This would require an end to tax competition
between European and other states, the elimination of tax and regulatory arbitrage
by transnational corporations and the restoration of viable systems of progressive
income tax in all European countries.
History
School
Social Sciences
Department
Politics and International Studies
Published in
Welfare State at Risk: Rising Inequality in Europe
Pages
81 - 103 (23)
Citation
LEAMAN, J., 2014. Market distribution, fiscal distribution and inequality: a case study of Britain. In: Eißel, D., Rocicka, E. and Leaman, J. (eds.). Welfare State at Risk: Rising Inequality in Europe. London: Springer, pp. 81-103.