Rich tax – comfortable independence yes, billions of hoards – no

On May 1st, employee rights such as fairer income, working hours, vacation, etc. are missing on a symbolic day against the unequal distribution of assets. The doctor of political scientists Martyna Linartas is researching this topic. The title of her book “undeserved inequality” invites you to two interpretations: Undeserved is the much higher assets of those who do not deserve it through their own work, genius or other performance. Undeserved However, many millions in this country also remain without notes, they cannot for their wealth. It is usually because they don’t have the “right” parents. In a time interview, Martyna Linartas even speaks of “sparrowottery”. The author describes generally, supported by meaningful show images, the almost obscene unequal distribution of assets in Germany. “The richer half in Germany holds 99.5% of the total net capacity on an individual level, the poorer half has only 0.5%,” is the signature under a sketch. “Dieter Schwarz (Lidl) and the Boehringer family and from Baumbach have more assets with at least 95 billion euros than the entire population,” says another.

The author proves that the largest parts of the huge assets of the rich result from inheritance, that is, not “deserved” by their own achievements. Based on relevant scientific literature, it demonstrates the negative effects of such huge assets on the environment. The Abramovich yacht alone causes 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. In order to keep the goal of more than 1.5 degrees more than 1.5 degrees from the Paris Climate Conference, not to keep a temperature increase more than 1.5 degrees, every person should not cause more than two tons of CO₂ in the global average.

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Martyna Linartas also points out the dangers of immense differences in the distribution of assets for democracy with impressive further evidence. If the Federal Republic wanted to at least mitigate this inequality, the instrument of tax legislation was bid. The author tells the history of inheritance tax in Germany in a longer digression. The asset tax was abolished decades ago. The scientist then makes plausible proposals for progressive asset tax and medium -sized inheritance, large and excessive inheritance, on the other hand, highly taxable new regulation. Martyna Linartas quotes the liberal thinker John Stuart Mill from the middle of the 19th century, which proposed a “comfortable independence” as a limit for assets that can be inherited or given away. “But be over!” Nowadays there is no lid. “Where the absolute border was reached at Mill (” comfortable independence “), inheritance taxes begin in Germany,” writes Martyna Linartas. “We are far from a social debate about capping inheritance taxes and donations.”

The author closes her book with refreshing and reconciling thoughts that the vast majority of people in Germany could communicate. Inheritance would be untouched up to one million euros, but should be prevented, however, higher, “undeserved inequalities”. Not only for thinking and debating, but also for concrete and rapid action, Martyna Linartas wrote this important, stimulating book.

Martyna Linartas: undeserved inequality. How the way out of the heir company can succeedn. Rowohlt, 320 pages, born, 24 €.