Tax commission report breaks with public will

Astrid Hauge Rambøl, an analyst at Manifest Analyse, has resigned from the tax commission, stating that the majority's work contradicts the public's will and the principle of tax capacity. She argues that the commission's proposals, particularly regarding wealth tax, fail to align with the broad support for a progressive tax system in Norway.

Rambøl's resignation comes after Aftenposten criticized her decision as "foolish behavior" and indicative of "posturing." However, she refutes this, asserting that her aim was to highlight the distributional effects of the commission's proposals more effectively than through minority remarks alone.

The core of Rambøl's critique is that the commission did not adequately explore alternatives favored by those who believe the wealth tax is problematic. She suggests that if the right-wing truly sought stability for businesses, they would be open to tax exchanges. These could include higher taxes on commercial property, inheritance taxes on large fortunes, adjustments to the exemption method, or changes in business taxation.

Public opinion, according to Rambøl, favors a progressive tax system where higher earners contribute a larger percentage of their income. She points out that while this holds true for 99% of the population, the wealthiest 1% pay a lower tax share than ordinary wage earners. This, she argues, is unfair and violates both the principle of tax capacity and the public's will.