Ethical Obligations of Wealthy People

Progressive Taxation and the Financial Crisis

Bibliographic Data

ID7207403
AuthorsHelmut P Gaisbauer (Innovations for Poverty Action, corresponding author), Gottfried Schweiger (0000-0001-5456-6358, Innovations for Poverty Action), Clemens Sedmak (0000-0002-2523-3914, Institute of Religious Studies)
Year2013
Volume7
Issue2
Pages141-154
Publication date2013-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEthics and Social Welfare (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1749-6535 • E-ISSN: 1749-6543
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17496535.2013.779003
OpenAlexW2151717255
LanguageEN
References cited34

The Financial Crisis in Europe puts pressure on welfare states and its tax systems as well as on considerations of social justice. In this paper, we would like to explore the status of the idea of progressive taxation and its justification (especially the ‘ability-to-pay’ principle) in times of a financial crisis. We will discuss it within a social justice framework following David Miller—using the principles of (i) need, (ii) merit, and (iii) equality. We will conclude that progressive taxation can be justified in the light of these three principles, even more so in the situation of a financial crisis that undermines decent living conditions for millions. The principle of need has to be given priority even if this move violates the principles of equality and desert

Business · Economics · Financial crisis · Financial system · Keynesian economics · Law and economics · Financial Literacy, Pension, Retirement Analysis · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Social Policy and Reform Studies