Wealth Taxes and Post-Growth: How different tax designs align with different goals

Thomas Webb, Arthur Apostel, Milena B\"uchs and Richard B\"arnthaler

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Abstract: Wealth taxes are a frequently proposed policy within the post-growth literature, but evaluations of their alignment with post-growth goals, and empirical estimates of their potential effects, are lacking. We contribute to this literature by examining the extent to which different wealth-tax designs can contribute to four goals of a post-growth transition: redistributing wealth; eradicating extreme wealth; curbing rent-seeking; and reducing CO2 emissions. The analysis is based on microsimulation modelling, using household-level data from 18 countries of the 2017 EU Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Our analysis finds that taxes on net wealth are the most progressive and redistributive, while taxes on financial and investment property wealth tend to be more effective at addressing rent-seeking. However, we also identify trade-offs and conflicts between different tax designs and goals. As a result, a broader package of policies will be necessary to navigate these conflicts and mitigate the limitations inherent in any single wealth-tax design.

Date: 2026-03
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