Tag: Income Inequality
Evidence on Behavioural Effects of Higher Capital Gains Taxes in Canada
The debate over whether to increase the tax rate hinges in part on the extent to which a higher tax rate would distort investment decisions and reduce incentives for Canadians to invest. This commentary sheds light on this debate by analyzing the effects of a tax policy change in the mid-1990s that increased the effective capital gains tax rate. They find that the new higher rate on capital gains tax had no adverse effect on cumulative adverse effects on capital gains realizations.
Wealth Inequality: A Long-Term View
The distribution of wealth in Canada is a hot topic, yet longer term trends are not frequently discussed. Piecing together many studies shows that the wealth share of the top one percent, stable over most the post-war era, may again be increasing. A broader view however shows there have been gains for the middle class and decreasing shares of wealth for the top ten percent.
Basic Income or Welfare Reform? A summary of the BC Basic Income Panel Report
On January 28, the BC Expert Panel on Basic Income issued its final report. Media coverage of the report naturally focussed mainly on what the panel did not recommend – a basic income program – but the report offers far more than that.