VAT in Italy: 22% Income Up to €15,000: 23% €28,000 – €55,000: 38% Employer payroll tax: 35% Employee payroll tax: 10% VAT in Australia: 10% Income up to

VAT in Italy: 22% Income Up to €15,000: 23% €28,000 – €55,000: 38% Employer payroll tax: 35% Employee payroll tax: 10% VAT in Australia: 10% Income up to €12,000: 0% €24,000 – €58,000: 32.5% Employee payroll tax: 5.5% Employee payroll tax: 9.5% This is why people are moving to Australia. Where does this money go in Italy? To pensions (17% of GDP) and a corrupt bureaucracy. If Italy is serious about climbing out of its demographic death spiral, it needs to raise the pension age to 70 pronto, record all welfare payments against assets owned and reclaim them at death, and adopt English as an official second language. With the savings they should dramatically cut taxes, especially VAT and payroll taxes which distort the economy and drive businesses towards unofficial hiring and cash transactions.