OSLO: Many Norwegians are willing to pay higher taxes if it results in a better welfare system, a survey by employee organisation Unio shows. 66% per cent of those asked said they would completely agree with the move, while the remainder partly said they would agree in part.
The poll also found that 93 per cent (74 per cent totally in favour, 19 per cent partially) believe it important to preserve the current benefits arrangement.
Moreover, 8 out of 10 felt that the key to reducing inequality in Norway was via tax policy. The percentage split here was 45/35.
Unio president Anders Folkestad’s opinion is that these findings seem to go against the government’s decision to cut taxes.
“We clearly see that the government’s tax cuts are not backed by any major demand by the people for these. The government is on a collision course with the people regarding important questions about tax and welfare,” he told Klassekampen.
Mr Folkestad added that there should be willingness to discuss future tax rates. According to the paper, the past few years have seen politicians, especially non-socialist ones, focusing on public spending cuts and increasing the retirement age.
“This study shows that there is a clear willingness to pay more. I’m pretty sure this would give us a more balanced tax debate ahead,” he said.
Both the Conservative (H) and Progress (FrP) Parties still believe tax cuts will benefit Norway.
Svein Flåtten, finance policy spokesperson for the Conservative Party, thinks that securing increased welfare by cutting taxes is the way forward.
According to him, this will increase growth, “thereby providing an increased tax basis”. Mr Flåtten raised doubts about the way Unio phrased their question, which was “are you willing to pay more taxes to ensure good public welfare services”.
