WIDER Annual Lecture 28: The billionaire tax - a (modest) proposal for the 21st century

As recent projections warn that we’re off-track to reduce poverty for the 2030 deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals, the pressing need for equitable tax systems takes center stage at the 28th WIDER Annual Lecture on 4 September in Helsinki, Finland. Esteemed economist Gabriel Zucman examines how disparities of current tax structures guarantee this inequality is persistent due to advantages enjoyed by the ultra-wealthy.
Advocating for a new form of multilateralism focused on rooting out the inequalities that can otherwise corrode democratic societies, Zucman proposes a coordinated minimum tax equal to 2% of wealth for the world’s super-rich. This approach aims to generate an additional $250 billion in tax revenues from a select group of 3,000 billionaires, underscoring the profound wealth concentration and advocating for a fairer distribution system.
Zucman’s insights extend beyond fiscal reforms, highlighting the environmental toll of businesses contributing to the wealth of the ultra-rich, and emphasizing the broader societal and ecological benefits of redistributing wealth. His call for international cooperation echoes the potential to bolster social services and environmental initiatives in the Global South. This dialogue, amplified by Brazil's pioneering role in G20 discussions, marks a historic pivot towards global fiscal equity.
About the event
The WIDER Annual Lecture is one of UNU-WIDER’s flagship events, a tradition started by Douglas C. North in 1997. Over the years, it has hosted a series of prestigious scholars and policymakers, including four Nobel Laureates, to discuss contemporary global issues. The 28th lecture promises to continue this legacy with Gabriel Zucman's analysis on the implementation of a global wealth tax to address global inequality. This year's lecture is part of UNU-WIDER's programme on Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM), which is supported by the Norwegian development co-operation agency Norad.
Join us as Gabriel Zucman discusses the urgent need to rectify global inequality through a new form of international economic cooperation. Zucman will explore the possibility of implementing a coordinated minimum tax, proposing a rate of 2% of wealth for the world's super-rich. This measure could significantly aid in funding social and environmental initiatives, particularly benefiting the Global South.
Event page here: www.wider.unu....