»Gegen die steigende Ungleichheit sind höhere Steuern nötig«

COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated preexisting inequalities in incomes and access to basic public services, such as health care and vaccination, both within and across countries. Disruptions to education threaten social mobility by leaving longlasting effects on children and youth, especially those from poorer households. These challenges are being compounded by accelerated digitalization and the transformational effect of the pandemic on the economy, posing lowskilled workers with difficulties in finding employment. Against this backdrop, societies may experience rising polarization, erosion of trust in government, or social unrest. These factors complicate sound economic policymaking and pose risks to macroeconomic stability and the functioning of society.

Governments need to provide everyone with a fair shot—enabling all individuals to reach their potential—and to strengthen vulnerable households’ resilience, preserving social stability and, in turn, macroeconomic stability. The pandemic has confirmed the merits of equal access to basic services—health care, quality education, and digital infrastructure—and of inclusive labor markets and effective social safety nets. Better performance in these areas has enhanced resilience to the pandemic and is key for the economic recovery to benefit all and to strengthen trust in government. Meanwhile, policies to reduce income gaps and improve access to services face a more challenging economic and social environment. Public finances have been weakened in most countries as a result of the pandemic. To finance these critical policies and foster inclusive growth, many countries will need to raise additional revenues and improve spending efficiency. Measures will thus need to support inclusive growth in a context of tighter fiscal space. At the same time, policymakers should be aware of public attitudes, which may be shifting toward greater demand for inclusive policies.

Den vollständigen Bericht finden Sie hier.