“Can tax policy simultaneously promote economical growth and reduce social inequality?”

The Freedom and Solidarity Foundation and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) are organizing an International Conference:

 “Can tax policy simultaneously promote economical growth and reduce social inequality?”

The economic model of the European Union is in this deepest crisis since its inception. There is both a financial crisis and a real sector crisis with stagnating economies, rising inequalityies and increasing divergence between the contries of the European Union. Economic inequality is at the centre of that crisis.

Recent reports show that some in some European Countries the richest ten per cent of the population have seen their share of the total income greatly increase. In other, an increase has been recorded in the percentage of the poor within the total poulation. In many cases these phenomena have occurred in paralel. Latvia is no exception to this trend. Here, as in many other European countries, austerity policies coupled with significant wage-defltation to achieve expeort competitiveness has led to an impoverishment of the population.

It is becoming increasingly evident that European and domestic macroeconomic policies need to move away from an excessive emphasis on inflation, and focus much more on employment, which is driving inequality.  Within an alternative macroeconomic paradigm a fair and progressive tax system plays a fundamental role.

In fact, taxation is a major determinant of the allocation of rights and resources within and across societies. As such, taxation should not be seen not only be seen as a civic duty, but as an instrument to achieve social justice, strenghten welfare societies and promote economic development.

The Freedom and Solidarity Foundation and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) are organizing an International Conference for bringing together employers’ organizations, trade unions, economic and experts and politicians and jointly discuss these issues and look for the best solutions.

Participants: John Weeks (SOAS, University of London), Antonio Gambini (Policy officer on financing for development for CNCD-11.11.11), Ilmārs Šņucins (Ministry of Finance of Latvia) and many more.   

This year’s conference will focus on three core issues:

1.      The impact of current neoliberal economic policies on inequality
2.      The role of taxation in stimulating economic development and reducing inequality
3.      The characteristics of a fair and progressive taxation system at national and European level

Read the programme