dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
uniqs
69
« Pass
This is a sub-selection from This is actually really interesting

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5

Re: This is actually really interesting

said by FFH5:

said by RockCake:
said by Vamp9190:

*Sigh*
I always loved Finland. Reindeer, cross-country skiing, fjords, hot blondes in snowshoes, all that.
I wonder how much a flat in Helsinki costs....
Hot tubs, don't forget hot tubs!
And don't forget higher suicide rates due to all those dark winter days.
AND really don't forget the 49% tax burden!
Of course with you working 2 or more jobs to pay for the 350 Sq ft studio apt. and putting a decent meal on the table every week or 2, you'll hardly have time for the internet stuff, IF you can afford the "reasonable price" (this is only right of access, not free) after you pay your heating bill.
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22

2 edits

1 recommendation

amigo_boy

Member

said by tshirt:

AND really don't forget the 49% tax burden!
My source says the average real tax in Finland is 46%. And, they have an extremely low level of wealth disparity compared to the US, whose real tax averages 40%.

The Gini-index part is interesting. The US has more in common with Mexico and China in terms of wealth disparity, which are both near 45. Canada is with all the other WASPie nations like Finland, Belgium, Germany.

And just a 6% real tax difference? Seems like we're getting shortchanged.

NeelyCam
@intel.com

NeelyCam

Anon

Yep.

USA is only better for high-income individuals; for anyone with average-or-below, nordic socialist nations are a far better choice.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt to amigo_boy

Premium Member

to amigo_boy
The EU counsel puts Finland at TOTAL taxation 48.8% of GDP, and the comparitive measure for the US around 29.6 (2009 numbers for both) A long way apart.
However if you think you'll be better off there, feel free to move.
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22

1 recommendation

amigo_boy

Member

said by tshirt:

The EU counsel puts Finland at TOTAL taxation 48.8% of GDP, and the comparitive measure for the US around 29.6 (2009 numbers for both) A long way apart.
I thought you were talking about what an individual would pay.

I think everyone knows we pay a lot more than 29.6% tax when income, sales, property and sin taxes are added together. It's only by adding corporate and capital gains taxes (with all the loopholes) that it goes back down to 29.6%.

M A R S
Premium Member
join:2001-06-15
Long Island

M A R S

Premium Member

said by amigo_boy:
said by tshirt:

The EU counsel puts Finland at TOTAL taxation 48.8% of GDP, and the comparitive measure for the US around 29.6 (2009 numbers for both) A long way apart.
I thought you were talking about what an individual would pay.

I think everyone knows we pay a lot more than 29.6% tax when income, sales, property and sin taxes are added together. It's only by adding corporate and capital gains taxes (with all the loopholes) that it goes back down to 29.6%.
interesting, does any one have a link to what some like me on Long Island pays? I bet in the end its much more than 29.6%
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22

amigo_boy

Member

said by M A R S:

does any one have a link to what some like me on Long Island pays? I bet in the end its much more than 29.6%
I haven't seen anything broken down by state.

It's difficult to measure, and especially apply cross-culturally. For example, earlier in this thread "pnh" pointed out how ISPs pay a tax to cities for their use of easements and rights of way. That tax is passed on to the ISPs' customers.

So, if a country like Finland doesn't do that (instead paying for the administration of easements from the general fund), their tax rate looks higher than ours.

Same with healthcare. You pay for your private insurance premiums through a paycheck deduction (and co-pay at time of visit, and deductables each year). If a country like Finland has single-payer healthcare insurance coming out of the general fund, you can't really compare their total (real) tax rate without considering what we pay which isn't a precisely a tax.

It's not as clear as it might seem.

NeelyCam
@comcast.net

NeelyCam to tshirt

Anon

to tshirt
Where did I say I think I would be better off?
Reading comprehension...?
« Pass
This is a sub-selection from This is actually really interesting