The French economist Gabriel Zucman has put giant fortunes and companies within the highlight, not just for his research on tax evasion, however for his proposal to tax giant belongings at 2%, one thing that he believes must be utilized globally, as he defended this Thursday within the presentation of the worldwide tax observatory (ITO).
Zucman was already director of the European Tax Observatory, created in 2021, which has determined to broaden the main target by contemplating that tax evasion and low taxation by multinationals “transcend the borders of the European Union.” “It is not just about a name change, but about intensifying the fight against fraud and preparing proposals for fairer taxation,” he highlighted through the occasion in Paris.
This includes, as he has insisted, making a tax for the very best belongings, not solely in France, the place his proposal is supported by the left, however is rejected by the remainder of the events, however in all nations. “There is a real industry of tax evasion and this is one of the reasons why we need mechanisms to correct it,” he famous within the presentation of the observatory, during which round thirty economists take part and which is predicated on the Paris School of Economics, within the French capital, the place Thomas Piketty’s group additionally works, answerable for the World Observatory of Inequalities and in addition a defender of extra equitable taxation.
The newest report from the European Tax Observatory estimated the cash that enormous companies divert to tax havens at a couple of trillion {dollars}. The similar occurs with giant belongings. “When you are extremely rich, it is much easier not to pay taxes, but if we have a reasonable rate, [las grandes fortunas] They will be obliged to pay a minimum,” defends the economist.
The majority of the inhabitants leaves between 25% and 50% of their earnings in taxes, percentages that escape the 0.001% of the wealthiest world inhabitants who management thrice extra wealth than half of humanity, based on the newest figures from the Piketty Observatory on Inequalities. According to Gabriel Zucman, these mega-rich pay 2% of their earnings in taxes, which in actuality is “a rate almost close to zero,” because of tax optimization devices.
The proposed 2% fee on belongings exceeding 100 million would permit them to lift 67 billion and be certain that they pay “proportionately with their income as many taxes as other categories.” During the presentation of the Observatory, Pierre Bachas, director of the tax evasion space, careworn that with this assortment “education in many countries could be financed” or environmental insurance policies.
The French economist believes that it’s a matter of time earlier than this tax on the fortunes that he defends is authorised: “We are at the beginning of a reflection on what the new rules of economic exchange and regulation should be. Nobody yet has a clear answer, but that is precisely what we want to contribute, proposals on tax matters. The approach is very different from how things have been done until now. The rules of the future must be different from those of the past, although their implementation will take time,” he mentioned.
In France, the so-called Zucman tax has occupied a part of the finances debate, however the proposal was not adopted as a result of it’s opposed by the middle and right-wing events, that are the bulk within the Assembly. The French economist meets this Friday with the Minister of Social Rights of Spain, Pablo Bustinduy, to deal with the opportunity of creating this tax in Spain. In statements to the Efe company, Zucman defended that “Spain must adopt it,” like the remainder of the nations.
“The question is what the current scenario is, what type of trade and tax structures we have today and what the current signals tell us about taxation. There is the idea that companies can be allowed to grow without clear obligations. But that stage seems to have come to an end,” he defined.
https://elpais.com/economia/2026-02-05/el-economista-frances-gabriel-zucman-defiende-una-tasa-para-las-grandes-fortunas-en-todos-los-paises.html