36 ms·
> How do you design a progressive consumption tax? Tax only private jets and yachts? I mean, at the extreme, yes (some countries do have sin taxes on those sor
by rsynnott 1y ago
> How do you design a progressive consumption tax? Tax only private jets and yachts?
I mean, at the extreme, yes (some countries do have sin taxes on those sorts of things). But for a more basic example, take EU VAT. EU countries usually have three or four VAT rates; basic essential goods are often VAT-exempt.
(This occasionally leads to fun disputes; for instance see the famous Jaffa Cake court case, or the more recent determination by the Irish Supreme Court that Subway's bread was not bread.)
- tolien 1y ago> (This occasionally leads to fun disputes; for instance see the famous Jaffa Cake court case, or the more recent determination by the Irish Supreme Court that Subway's bread was not bread.) The FT's been having fun investigating whether Tesco's Birthday Cake or M&S's Strawberries and Cream sandwiches are subject to VAT. The answer seems to be no but maybe they should (although nobody cares, probably). Quality journalism at its best.
- bornfreddy 1y ago> ...determination by the Irish Supreme Court that Subway's bread was not bread. Thank you, this is hilarious... [0] [1] ...and not that hilarious. :-/ [2] I will never look at Subway's sandwiches the same way again. [0] https://www.npr.org/2020/10/01/919189045/for-subway-a-ruling-not-so-sweet-irish-court-says-its-bread-isnt-bread https://www.npr.org/2020/10/01/919189045/for-subway-a-ruling... [1] https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2013/01/subway-foot-longs-coming-up-short/ https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2013/01/subway-foot-lo... [2] https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/02/06/272455631/subway-phasing-out-bread-additive-after-blogger-flags-health-concerns https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/02/06/272455631/su...
- rsynnott 1y ago[2] is only really relevant if you're in the US or Canada (most other places ban it in food, though not yoga mats) but if you are then the bad news is that while Subway may have gotten rid of it, a _lot_ of other companies still use it.