A new study shows, “Those up there” favor redistribution among the poor. “We did not expect this result,” admits Leonhard Dobusch, head of the worker-oriented Momentum Institute: “Across all classes” Austria wants social redistribution.
2000 Austrians from rich to poor were interviewed by the Sora Institute for a momentum study on work, taxation and social affairs. Three-quarters believe that the political system in Austria no longer works, mainly due to social inequality.
Two social classes, one and the same answer
For example, 88 percent of all respondents call for improvements in working conditions in strenuous occupations – the rich (85%) almost as much as the poor (87%). When it comes to the desire for more money in the low-wage sectors, both groups are even of the same opinion: 86 percent are in favour.
Conversely, according to the study, poor people are astonishingly ‘entrepreneurial’: 57 percent of low-income people also want to be stricter in guiding the unemployed to new jobs – the agreement of the wealthy is not much higher at 60 percent.
Redistribution may also cost a bit
With no class distinction, about 80 percent of respondents also advocated better educational opportunities for disadvantaged children and protection against discrimination based on poverty. The “red lantern” among all social issues is whether the rich should get more money: not only 76 percent of the poor deny this, but also 71 percent of the rich.
There is also agreement on how social redistribution should be financed: “We have a two-thirds majority in Austria for the introduction of a wealth tax”, said Dobusch, almost surprised: not only 62 percent of the poor are in favour, but also 61 percent of the top earners .
What should be done with the money is also clear from the point of view of the population: first the food must become cheaper, then one can devote oneself to the rest.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
