Americans' tax burden is lightest in developed world - USATODAY.com Updated 11/27/2009 1:51 AM |
COMPARING TAX BURDENS
How the USA and some other nations compare in total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP:
2007 2008*
Denmark 48.7% 48.3%
Sweden 48.3% 47.1%
Belgium 43.9% 44.3%
France 43.5% 43.1%
Italy 43.5% 43.2%
Finland 43.0% 42.8%
Austria 42.3% 42.9%
Germany 36.2% 36.4%
United Kingdom 36.1% 35.7%
Canada 33.3% 32.2%
United States 28.3% 26.9%
* = provisional Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
By David J. Lynch, USA TODAY
You'd never know it from all the cable news chatter, but Americans bear the lightest tax burden in the developed world.
Total U.S. tax revenues in 2008 equaled 26.9% of gross domestic product, according to provisional figures released Tuesday by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That figure ? which includes local, state and federal taxes, including Social Security ? was lower than the 1990 ratio and far below levels across Europe. In Denmark, the total tax take exceeds 48% of the economy. In France, it tops 43%; Germany, 36%.
MORE POLITICAL NEWS: Washington front page
To those on the right, who see Uncle Sam's comparatively light touch as a key to economic growth, the new numbers show what's at stake as the Obama White House battles the recession with generous doses of public funds. To others, the tax data from the 30-nation organization suggest the U.S. has room to raise taxes to pay for its unprecedented crisis-related borrowing.....let's hear comments from the teabaggers after they cash their government checks
Replies
23Beach Fanatic
I would argue that Americans are merely shifting the tax burden down the road.
SoWal Insider
Americans' tax burden is lightest in developed world - USATODAY.com Updated 11/27/2009 1:51 AM |
COMPARING TAX BURDENS
How the USA and some other nations compare in total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP:
2007 2008*
Denmark 48.7% 48.3%
Sweden 48.3% 47.1%
Belgium 43.9% 44.3%
France 43.5% 43.1%
Italy 43.5% 43.2%
Finland 43.0% 42.8%
Austria 42.3% 42.9%
Germany 36.2% 36.4%
United Kingdom 36.1% 35.7%
Canada 33.3% 32.2%
United States 28.3% 26.9%
* = provisional Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
By David J. Lynch, USA TODAY
You'd never know it from all the cable news chatter, but Americans bear the lightest tax burden in the developed world.
Total U.S. tax revenues in 2008 equaled 26.9% of gross domestic product, according to provisional figures released Tuesday by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That figure ? which includes local, state and federal taxes, including Social Security ? was lower than the 1990 ratio and far below levels across Europe. In Denmark, the total tax take exceeds 48% of the economy. In France, it tops 43%; Germany, 36%.
MORE POLITICAL NEWS: Washington front page
To those on the right, who see Uncle Sam's comparatively light touch as a key to economic growth, the new numbers show what's at stake as the Obama White House battles the recession with generous doses of public funds. To others, the tax data from the 30-nation organization suggest the U.S. has room to raise taxes to pay for its unprecedented crisis-related borrowing.....let's hear comments from the teabaggers after they cash their government checks
Bob, every single one of those countries operates under a Socialist Regime, some of which teeter on Marxism, like Sweden where Elin Woods' Mother is very high up politically in their Socialist Democratic Party....i.e. very high Redistribution of Wealth.
Of course their tax base/burden is higher than ours. Individually, they don't have the population we have further making their welfare/socialist programs extemely expensive per capita.
SWGB
Bob, every single one of those countries operates under a Socialist Regime, some of which teeter on Marxism, like Sweden where Elin Woods' Mother is very high up politically in their Socialist Democratic Party....i.e. very high Redistribution of Wealth.
Of course their tax base/burden is higher than ours. Individually, they don't have the population we have further making their welfare/socialist programs extemely expensive per capita.
Yet you continue to eat chocolate? :scratch:
SoWal Insider
Speak English, swgb.
Beach Fanatic
Speak English, swgb.:funn:where have i heard this before?
SoWal Insider
To those on the right, who see Uncle Sam's comparatively light touch as a key to economic growth, the new numbers show what's at stake as the Obama White House battles the recession with generous doses of public funds. To others, the tax data from the 30-nation organization suggest the U.S. has room to raise taxes to pay for its unprecedented crisis-related borrowing.....let's hear comments from the teabaggers after they cash their government checks
Lets take a look at the debt to GDP ratios in 2008 for these countries, and see how effective higher tax rates were at solving their debt problems -
Denmark - 22%
Sweden - 37%
Belgium - 81%
France - 67%
Italy - 104%
Finland - 33%
Austria - 59%
Germany - 63%
United Kingdom - 47%
Canada - 63%
United States - 39%
Clearly higher tax rates have not solved the debt problems of most of these states. Ironically, The United States, with it's lower tax rates, ranks 3rd lowest on your list for debt as a percentage of GDP.
(..and to be fair, we should probably throw out Denmark, which funds it's entitlements via oil exports from the North Sea.)
SoWal Insider
You can throw France out because they don't like to pay their debts. 
Where is Norway; uber oil rich - talk about drill baby drill?
Where is Norway; uber oil rich - talk about drill baby drill?SWGB
You can throw France out because they don't like to pay their debts.
Do you desire to lay out in a two piece along a fjord?
Beach Fanatic
Anybody know which method of calculating GDP was used for these stats? How about the current actual domestic productivity numbers?
These stats are 1-2 years old. Two pretty sad years in the economy. I'm not up to date on current domestic productivity... I could be wrong, but I'm guessing it's down. If the root Productivity is down -- the percentages automatically go up.
Strategic conversations based on year(s) old percentage ratios instead of real numbers...
seems like titanic iceberg math to me.
These stats are 1-2 years old. Two pretty sad years in the economy. I'm not up to date on current domestic productivity... I could be wrong, but I'm guessing it's down. If the root Productivity is down -- the percentages automatically go up.
Strategic conversations based on year(s) old percentage ratios instead of real numbers...
seems like titanic iceberg math to me.
Beach Fanatic
Clearly we should raise taxes. We need to be more aligned with other failing Countries in Europe. If we impose more taxes we can keep spending ridiculous amounts of money.
SoWal Insider
Do you desire to lay out in a two piece along a fjord?
I have. Google Prekostolen (sp.?)SWGB
Clearly we should raise taxes. We need to be more aligned with other failing Countries in Europe. If we impose more taxes we can keep spending ridiculous amounts of money.
Who's currency is still higher than ours.
XE.com: EUR to USD rate: 1.00 EUR = 1.34150 USD
Beach Fanatic
Andrew, Europe isn't failing. Just wondering- which European counties have you ever visited?
SoWal Insider
Andrew, Europe isn't failing. Just wondering- which European counties have you ever visited?
Greece did fail basically, Portugal is on the precipice, and Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Iceland are all flirting with sovereign debt default.
Generally, the ero-zone is in far worse shape than we are. Their social economic models can't handle major downturns as well as we can. But just give the liberals time, they'll get us there!
Edited
SoWal Insider
Iceland was already bailed out of bankruptcy (or, whatever they call it) in late 2008 or early 2009. Italy for certain is in a precarious situation - they should export more truffles IMHO. I haven't paid attention to Ireland, but will check that out.
Beach Fanatic
Andrew, Europe isn't failing. Just wondering- which European counties have you ever visited?
SoWal Insider
Iceland was already bailed out of bankruptcy (or, whatever they call it) in late 2008 or early 2009. Italy for certain is in a precarious situation - they should export more truffles IMHO. I haven't paid attention to Ireland, but will check that out.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Greece did fail basically, Portugal is on the precipice, and Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Iceland are all flirting with sovereign debt default.and what proud nation precipitated the downturn with it's free market capitalist socipaths? the irish? your momma?
Generally, the ero-zone is in far worse shape than we are. Their social economic models can't handle major downturns as well as we can. But just give the liberals time, they'll get us there!
SoWal Insider
I see the issue in Greece more as their unification issues and wanting to maintain respective independence. I don't think this is a USA problem and the countries with their own set of problems need to claim them instead of blaming. Just saying and I could be wrong, but am simply tired of all of this blame coming at us. Doesn't anyone accept responsibility for their actions any longer?
Greek Bankruptcy Threat Underlines The Fundamental Problems Of The Euro and EU | KTF Media Group
Greek Bankruptcy Threat Underlines The Fundamental Problems Of The Euro and EU | KTF Media Group
Edited
Beach Fanatic
Again, those countries aren't failing. Do they have debt issues because they drank our KoolAid? Sure. There are few places that haven't been impacted. But anyway- let's get back to where this tangent started.
I reacted to that egocentric American attitude of-
why would we ever look to how another country does things when we are obviously superior?
Stop googling economic reports and take a trip. We have much to learn from other societies.
I reacted to that egocentric American attitude of-
why would we ever look to how another country does things when we are obviously superior?
Stop googling economic reports and take a trip. We have much to learn from other societies.
SoWal Expert
Again, those countries aren't failing. Do they have debt issues because they drank our KoolAid? Sure. There are few places that haven't been impacted. But anyway- let's get back to where this tangent started.
I reacted to that egocentric American attitude of-
why would we ever look to how another country does things when we are obviously superior?
Stop googling economic reports and take a trip. We have much to learn from other societies.[ /QUOTE]
Yup. It's a big world out there.
SoWal Insider
Again, those countries aren't failing. Do they have debt issues because they drank our KoolAid? Sure. There are few places that haven't been impacted. But anyway- let's get back to where this tangent started.
I reacted to that egocentric American attitude of-
why would we ever look to how another country does things when we are obviously superior?
Stop googling economic reports and take a trip. We have much to learn from other societies.
I don't think they are failing either, but they aren't in good shape; they will bail each other out. Or, China might bail them out; who knows?. Whatever they drank, they did so on their on free will. Bob should stop googling this stuff.
I am totally up for a trip and maybe a free drink!
Beach Fanatic
Again, those countries aren't failing. Do they have debt issues because they drank our KoolAid? Sure. There are few places that haven't been impacted. But anyway- let's get back to where this tangent started.While what you say is true to a degree, the main thing I learned from other societies is that America is the best place I've seen in the world to live, though that may be changing as we speak. Oh, and I have live in four other societies an extended period of time.
I reacted to that egocentric American attitude of-
why would we ever look to how another country does things when we are obviously superior?
Stop googling economic reports and take a trip. We have much to learn from other societies.
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