InvestorsHub Logo
Followers 7
Posts 201
Boards Moderated 2
Alias Born 11/20/2002

Re: Zeev Hed post# 196928

Monday, 01/26/2004 7:03:24 AM

Monday, January 26, 2004 7:03:24 AM

Post# of 704019
Those earning $1 MM will be more mobile and will to some extent spend their money in the country with the lowest sales tax. So, even if you think it would be fairer to make the tax more progressive, countries doing so will price themselves out of the market and end up making the sales tax more practically regressive, whilst hurting domestic production at the same time.

Hundreds of thousands of people each year make the crossing from England to France on a "booze cruise", to load their cars up with cheap alcohol and cigarettes, which are taxed much lower in France. There is a similar phenomenon with Swedes travelling to Denmark to shop for alcohol, while Danes travel to Sweden for other items. A smaller number shop around between different EU countries to buy cars.

For higher priced items like yachts, the use of "flags of convenience" has been around for centuries.

This is why there are "tax havens" which come under the protection of a country, and are home to that country's citizens, but have a lower rate. The govt would like to tax those citizens at a high rate, but knows they will lose the citizens and get zero if they attempt to do so.

Join the InvestorsHub Community

Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.