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"Belgians get too little in return for high taxes", says economist
Belgians pay too many taxes for the quality of life they get back, according to employers' organisation VOKA based on the result of its second value-for-money index. In the European ranking, Belgium ranks 20th out of 24 countries surveyed. Switzerland, Norway and Luxembourg top the list. Stijn Decock, chief economist at VOKA, says the result is "further proof that structural reforms are necessary to ensure that we get a better return on our tax money."
The VOKA index is based on 47 indicators of how much tax money a government levies, and what that government gives back in terms of education, employment, health care and more.
"Many European countries with a comparable tax burden do much more for their citizens," Decock explains. "There are also many European countries that do as much as Belgium, but with less taxes. We are not asking for a minimal state, but for a more efficient government... more value for our money.”
Comments
It would be very interesting to understand how the number of people employed in the multitude of government bodies in Belgium (local, regional and federal), compares with the other countries which offer better services. Good fodder for a follow-up article on this subject?
This country has far too many government officials.
This country has far too many governments, parliaments, etc. But as long as Belgians meekly accept the astronomical taxes, all governments in the kingdom will cheerfully continue to collect them.
I saw similar reports 25 years ago and have seen many since and long ago came to the same conclusion myself. The tax is outrageous and is not good value for those paying it. It's that simple.
You won't get a follow up article on this, certainly not an in depth one. Too many vested interests would be pulling too many strings connected to above.
Best thing to do when you complain about poor value tax and are told to feck off? Do it.