Income and Wealth Inequality and the 99% Initiative

1. Inequality and Corona crisis: Short term

Up to now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic inequality of disposable income in Switzerland has

2. Inequality and Corona crisis: Long term

In the long run and without additional active countermeasures by economic policy (ceteris paribus), the Covid-19 pandemic will cause inequality of disposable income in Switzerland (compared to a scenario without a pandemic) to

3. Income inequality and economic development

The current level of income inequality in Switzerland has the following effect on long-term economic development:

4. Wealth inequality and economic development

The current level of wealth inequality in Switzerland has the following effect on long-term economic development:

5. 99% Initiative

The 99% Initiative calls for capital income to be taxed 1.5 times as much as labor income above an exemption amount to be determined by the legislature. Currently, in Switzerland taxation of total income generally does not distinguish between individual elements or sources (exceptions are dividends and other income from qualifying investments, which are taxed at a lower rate). From an economic perspective, should capital income be taxed more heavily, equally, or less heavily than labor income? From an economic perspective,

6. Tax policy instruments

Which tax policy instruments should be used as a priority to reduce a too high level of inequality or should no such instruments be used (multiple choice possible, in %)?

7. Non-tax policy instruments

Which non-tax policy instruments should be used as a priority to reduce a too high level of inequality or should no such instruments be used (multiple choice possible, in %)?

8. Tax policy instruments or non-tax policy instruments

Which type of instruments should be given a higher weight to reduce a too high level of inequality, or should both be weighted equally, or should both not be used at all?