Assignment task:
"Denmark is located in northwestern Europe, has about 5.5 million people, and is a little smaller than Nova Scotia. This country is a good example of the economic and political system called welfare capitalism, in which a market economy is mixed with broad government programs that provide for the welfare of all Danish people.
Most Danes consider life in their country to be very good. There is a high standard of living-Denmark and Canada both have a per-person GDP of about $37 800. However, Canada has almost 50 percent more income inequality than Denmark (the United States has almost twice as much). Denmark's unemployment rate for 2010 was 6 percent, lower than the 8.3 percent in Canada (OECD, 2011a).
Low inequality and low unemployment are largely the result of government regulation of the Danish economy. Taxes in Denmark are the highest in the world, with most people paying about 40 percent of their income in taxes and those earning over $70 000 paying more than 50 percent (people in Quebec pay close to 30 percent, while most people in Canada pay less than 25 percent at that income level). That's in addition to a sales tax of 25 percent on everything people buy. These high taxes increase economic equality (by taking more taxes from the rich and giving more benefits to the poor) and they also allow the government to fund social welfare programs that provide benefits to everyone. For example, every Danish citizen is entitled to government-funded college and university education and universal health care, and each worker receives at least five weeks of paid vacation leave each year. People who lose their jobs receive about 90 percent of their prior income from the government for up to four years.
Many people-especially the Danes themselves-feel that Denmark offers an ideal mix of political freedom (Danes have extensive political rights and elect their leaders) and economic security (all citizens benefit from extensive government services and programs)." (Macionis, 2018).
Question:
In Canada, the average rate of income tax is around 30%. Would you be willing to pay more income taxes if the government provided you with additional universal benefits such as post-secondary schooling, additional health care like prescriptions, universal day care, etc.? Why or why not?