Should Governments Tax the Rich and Subsidize the Poor? An Empirical Study of German Opinion

Abstract

One question in the most recent World Values Survey asked whether it is an essential characteristic of democratic governments to tax the rich and subsidize the poor. The present study reports the findings of the survey conducted in Germany. The overall response and relative ranking are discussed, as well as the finding for certain demographic variables, such as gender, age, marital status, social class, education level, religious denomination, ethnicity, and region. A trend analysis was also conducted to determine whether German views have changed over time.

Keywords: tax, subsidy, government, ethics, redistribution, Germany

JEL Classification: D31, D63, E7, H1, H2, J1, K11, O52, Z1