For most of history, governments all over the world have taxed their citizens in order to meet the expenditure on public goods. These are wars, defence, currency, police, justice and, of course, the salaries of tax collectors. Plus some other things.
Then came populist democracy and governments began to tax in order to finance the creation of quasi-public goods and outright private goods. This led them to tax both businesses and people. In fact, people forget that the income tax as a permanent tax is just about 150 years old. Thus began the competition between income tax — namely,
Then came populist democracy and governments began to tax in order to finance the creation of quasi-public goods and outright private goods. This led them to tax both businesses and people. In fact, people forget that the income tax as a permanent tax is just about 150 years old. Thus began the competition between income tax — namely,
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