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Author Topic: Talking Taxation?
Shipgone
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5368

posted 20 May 2004 01:55 PM      Profile for Shipgone     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I'm trying to understand how taxation is figured out in regards to GDP.

I've often read that government serices cost us a percentage of GDP.

Can someone explain this to me in a simple understandable way. It becomes abstract and then evaporates on me.

thanks


From: TO | Registered: Apr 2004  |  IP: Logged
MacD
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2511

posted 20 May 2004 05:10 PM      Profile for MacD     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
As far as taxes are concerned, I think the calculation is relatively simple: take the total $ collected in taxes by all federal, provincial, and municipal governments in Canada, and divide by the total GDP (i.e. the value of all goods and services that the Canadian economy produces) to get a percentage.

As far as interpreting this figure goes...

Anti-tax zealots would have us believe that this is money being sucked out of the economy. In truth, the governments spend the money in order to obtain goods and services so taxes collected do contribute to production.

How economists calculate the GDP is more of a mystery. Maybe Oliver Cromwell could explain.

[ 20 May 2004: Message edited by: MacD ]


From: Redmonton, Alberta | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged

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