In: Economics
Suppose the government needs to raise funds for its expenditures
by a proportional income tax.
Explain in words why there could be two tax rates (i.e. two
equilibria) that could raise the required funds for the
government.
Yes, Government should raise funds for its expenditures by a proportional income tax because a proportional tax is a tax that levies same percentage tax to every earner. The proportional tax is same for low, middle and high income group.
There could be two taxes to raise required funds for the government
because adding a higher amount in one tax system may be a burden
for all income groups, they may feel discouraged to earn. So to
raise funds for government expenditure, it should impose another
tax system on those goods which are not necessary for the consumers
but they consume due to their habits or to maintain a luxurious
lifestyle. These goods include, tobacco, alcohol, petrol and
diesel.
Government can levy a high tax on cigarettes and other tobacco
products to discourage its consumption and symultaneously can raise
the required funds for its expenditure. Similarly, alcohol is not
good for health, people know it well but still they consume it as
it is their regular habit or some people take it as their status
symbol, in that case, government can take advantage of this
situation and raise the tax amount to gather funds for its
expenditure. Similarly, petrol and diesel pollutes our environment,
to attract more people towards the use of public transport,
government can raise tax amount on petrol and diesel, so that there
could be less number of vehicles on road.
In this way, government can impose another tax rate on the
non-essential goods to raise funds for its expenditure without
putting financial pressure on any income group.