EP32 · Economy · first published 2020-08-20
Taxation, the Laffer curve and Libera | Tere Sammallahti | Negotiator 32
Tere Sammallahti of the think tank Libera asks why Finnish tax debate always aims at the peak of the Laffer curve and never at collecting as little tax as possible. The conversation covers the problem of cherry-picked comparison periods in economic argument, the scale of transfers and Gini figures, a three-dimensional political coordinate system, universally binding collective agreements and the position of the non-unionised worker, and taxing externalities as a way to fund lower taxes on work.
Taxation, the Laffer curve and Libera | Tere Sammallahti | Negotiator 32
Summary: Tere Sammallahti of the think tank Libera asks why Finnish tax debate always aims at the peak of the Laffer curve and never at collecting as little tax as possible. The conversation covers the problem of cherry-picked comparison periods in economic argument, the scale of transfers and Gini figures, a three-dimensional political coordinate system, universally binding collective agreements and the position of the non-unionised worker, and taxing externalities as a way to fund lower taxes on work.
Key Themes
- Why the debate always aims at the top of the Laffer curve: Discussed from 00:00 onward.
- Choosing comparison periods and what that proves: Discussed from 02:30 onward.
- Libera’s pamphlets and independence from commissioned work: Discussed from 05:00 onward.
- The scale of the transfer mechanism and the net Gini: Discussed from 07:30 onward.
- Who distributes and to whom — inclusive or elite capture: Discussed from 10:00 onward.
- Laffer logic is ordinary market mechanics: Discussed from 12:30 onward.
- A three-dimensional political coordinate system: Discussed from 15:00 onward.
- Universally binding agreements and the non-unionised worker: Discussed from 17:30 onward.
- Compulsory collectives: healthcare, pensions, education: Discussed from 20:00 onward.
- Libertarianism as a term and universal insurance: Discussed from 22:30 onward.
- Transfers at EU level and the totalitarian axis: Discussed from 25:00 onward.
- Piketty, broadening the capital tax base and Laffer: Discussed from 27:30 onward.
- The social media illusion: 20,000 active tweeters are not the nation: Discussed from 30:00 onward.
- Paying tax and moving abroad — who is whose hostage: Discussed from 32:30 onward.
- The reception of the How Finland Can Be Saved pamphlet: Discussed from 35:00 onward.
- Think tanks, party discipline and self-censorship: Discussed from 37:30 onward.
- Deficits as the normal state and printing money: Discussed from 40:00 onward.
- Recovery fund money going to farm and regional subsidies: Discussed from 42:30 onward.
- Taxing externalities to fund lower taxes on work: Discussed from 45:00 onward.
- Closing and what comes next: Discussed from 47:30 onward.