When Italy posted every citizen's taxable income on their website without warning, Italians were livid and 75 percent of you said that you would be, too. While most of the world remains in the dark about what other people are bringing home, Sweden, Finland, and Norway have the practice of publishing everyone's tax information each year.
The Italian government posted their citizens' details in an attempt to curb tax evasion, but Scandinavian governments share the information as a way to provide checks and balances. You don't have to worry about the US trying any funny business as federal law protects your privacy. Would you still mind your income on show if it were a customary procedure and wasn't sprung on you unexpectedly?
Desigual
Autograph
Diesel
I am married to a Finn and we are now living in Norway and I didn't even know that!
1I'm from Finland and I'm not sure I like our incomes published.
You can buy a "income-magazine" from the newstand which has everyone's income from your county (I think they show over 12000€/year only).
My dad buys that some years and as a kid I had no idea how much money my parents were making. When I learned they had more money than most of my friend's parents - I started demanding more clothes. Heh.
I would never buy that magazine myself. Of course my nosey-self would love to know how much our neighbors have, but I don't like them knowing how much I have. So my moral keeps me from ketting that info. I really think I should have been kept in dark about my friend's parent's incomes also.
2i wouldn't mind. i'm desperately poor and all my friends and relations know it.
i can see how it could hurt or hinder a lot of people, though. especially wealthy people trying to live modestly, or alternately, poorer people trying to live beyond their means to appear wealthy.
(plus, it'd probably lead to a new era of taunting in schools. "my dad makes more than your dad!")
3public officials incomes are available because they are public officials but my personal biz..hells naw..
it aint nobodys business..
and i could just see how that information would be misused..
4Even for those of us who don't have a lot of money, I can see how it can be bad if, say, employers know our income and lowball us when it comes to salary negotiations.
The very wealthy would probably have to fear for their lives, though. Talk about a handy handbook for criminals like burglars and kidnappers.
5Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.