（社説）消費増税と与党協議 「再分配」を論じる時だEDITORIAL: Politicians ignoring key issue of redistribution in tax debate
日本文http://digital.asahi.com/articles/DA3S12080713.html?rm=150
英文https://ajw.asahi.com/article/views/editorial/AJ201511230024
消費税には、所得の少ない人ほど負担が重くなる「逆進性」がある。The consumption tax is regressive by nature, which means the burden is relatively heavier for people with lower incomes.
与党が軽減税率を検討し始めたのは、逆進性を和らげるためだった。The ruling coalition started considering the introduction of a lower consumption tax rate for certain categories of goods as a means to weaken the regressive effects of the tax.
ところが、ここへきて「景気への悪影響を小さくする」「痛税感を緩和する」との狙いが語られている。But lawmakers in the ruling camp are now talking about the proposal as a measure to cushion the negative impact of the tax increase on the economy and make the hike less painful for consumers.
そればかりか、軽減税率導入に伴う税収減の穴埋め策として、低所得者向けの社会保障給付の取りやめが浮上するなど、本末転倒とも言える議論が続く。Moreover, debate on the consumption tax within the ruling parties is showing troubling signs of misplaced priorities. One proposal that is gaining popularity within the ruling bloc, for instance, calls for terminating social security benefits for low-income earners as a means to offset the fall in tax revenue caused by the introduction of a lower rate.
そもそも、軽減税率では支援の必要がない高所得者も恩恵を受ける。A reduced consumption tax rate for certain goods would also be beneficial for well-to-do consumers who don’t need financial support.
税収減の度合いと比べて低所得者を支える政策効果は大きくない。As a result, the effectiveness of this policy measure as financial support for low-income earners is not large enough to justify the fall it will cause in the tax revenue.
低所得者対策を中心とする「再分配」の仕組みを整えることは、税財政政策の眼目である。Building an effective system for “redistribution” based mainly on measures to support low-income earners should be a key fiscal policy goal.
まず、給付付き税額控除。税額控除とは納税額を直接減らす減税手法のことだ。税制と社会保障などの給付を一体で設計しようという考え方である。Building an effective system for “redistribution” based mainly on measures to support low-income earners should be a key fiscal policy goal.
総合合算制度。医療や介護、保育の自己負担を個人ごとに合計し、上限を設ける仕組みだ。。A second measure would cap the total payments by a taxpayer for health-, nursing- and day-care services and require the government to subsidize the balance.
所得の少ない人にとって、社会保障に伴う保険料や自己負担の逆進性は消費税より大きいとの指摘がある。Experts point out that the financial burden of insurance premiums and other payments for social security services is even more regressive for low-income earners than the consumption tax.
総合合算制度は、保険料が対象外ではあるが、社会保障に伴う負担を取り上げた点が注目されたThe proposal to set a ceiling on a person’s payments for social security services doesn’t cover insurance premiums but is still notable in that it addresses the issue of the social security burden on individuals.
高所得者が多く持つ株の配当や売却益への課税が軽いため、所得が１億円を超えると所得税の負担率が下がる。Because of low taxation on dividends on shares and profits from stock sales, the tax burden ratio for high-income earners declines after their annual income surpasses 100 million yen ($811,700).
税制の再分配機能は弱く、社会保障頼みになっている。The current tax system is not an effective tool for redistribution, leaving this function to be performed mainly by the social security system.
子どもの貧困から格差・不平等が世代ごとに拡大するのを防ぐため、社会保障と教育政策を一体で考えたい……To prevent poverty among children from widening disparity and inequality in each generation, the panel is working on integrated solutions to related social security and education problems. It plans to soon make its proposals for tax reform based on its own viewpoints.
少子高齢化と格差・不平等の深刻化が同時に進む日本の現状への危機感だ。 the nation’s tax system is in urgent need of a major overhaul to deal with serious challenges posed by the aging of the population amid low birthrates and rapidly widening disparity and inequality among the people.
非正規や無業の若者が増え続ければ知識や技能の伝承が途切れ、国全体の成長力が低下しかねない。If the number of young people who are jobless or in nonregular positions keeps increasing, generational transfers of knowledge and skills could be disrupted with dire consequences for the nation’s economic growth.
貧しい高齢者の増加を放置していては、既に不十分な社会保障制度や予算が破綻（はたん）してしまう。If nothing is done to cope with the problem of the growing ranks of poor elderly people, the already troubled social security system and budget will become completely unsustainable.
日本文http://digital.asahi.com/articles/DA3S12080713.html?rm=150
英文https://ajw.asahi.com/article/views/editorial/AJ201511230024
消費税には、所得の少ない人ほど負担が重くなる「逆進性」がある。The consumption tax is regressive by nature, which means the burden is relatively heavier for people with lower incomes.
与党が軽減税率を検討し始めたのは、逆進性を和らげるためだった。The ruling coalition started considering the introduction of a lower consumption tax rate for certain categories of goods as a means to weaken the regressive effects of the tax.
ところが、ここへきて「景気への悪影響を小さくする」「痛税感を緩和する」との狙いが語られている。But lawmakers in the ruling camp are now talking about the proposal as a measure to cushion the negative impact of the tax increase on the economy and make the hike less painful for consumers.
そればかりか、軽減税率導入に伴う税収減の穴埋め策として、低所得者向けの社会保障給付の取りやめが浮上するなど、本末転倒とも言える議論が続く。Moreover, debate on the consumption tax within the ruling parties is showing troubling signs of misplaced priorities. One proposal that is gaining popularity within the ruling bloc, for instance, calls for terminating social security benefits for low-income earners as a means to offset the fall in tax revenue caused by the introduction of a lower rate.
そもそも、軽減税率では支援の必要がない高所得者も恩恵を受ける。A reduced consumption tax rate for certain goods would also be beneficial for well-to-do consumers who don’t need financial support.
税収減の度合いと比べて低所得者を支える政策効果は大きくない。As a result, the effectiveness of this policy measure as financial support for low-income earners is not large enough to justify the fall it will cause in the tax revenue.
低所得者対策を中心とする「再分配」の仕組みを整えることは、税財政政策の眼目である。Building an effective system for “redistribution” based mainly on measures to support low-income earners should be a key fiscal policy goal.
まず、給付付き税額控除。税額控除とは納税額を直接減らす減税手法のことだ。税制と社会保障などの給付を一体で設計しようという考え方である。Building an effective system for “redistribution” based mainly on measures to support low-income earners should be a key fiscal policy goal.
総合合算制度。医療や介護、保育の自己負担を個人ごとに合計し、上限を設ける仕組みだ。。A second measure would cap the total payments by a taxpayer for health-, nursing- and day-care services and require the government to subsidize the balance.
所得の少ない人にとって、社会保障に伴う保険料や自己負担の逆進性は消費税より大きいとの指摘がある。Experts point out that the financial burden of insurance premiums and other payments for social security services is even more regressive for low-income earners than the consumption tax.
総合合算制度は、保険料が対象外ではあるが、社会保障に伴う負担を取り上げた点が注目されたThe proposal to set a ceiling on a person’s payments for social security services doesn’t cover insurance premiums but is still notable in that it addresses the issue of the social security burden on individuals.
高所得者が多く持つ株の配当や売却益への課税が軽いため、所得が１億円を超えると所得税の負担率が下がる。Because of low taxation on dividends on shares and profits from stock sales, the tax burden ratio for high-income earners declines after their annual income surpasses 100 million yen ($811,700).
税制の再分配機能は弱く、社会保障頼みになっている。The current tax system is not an effective tool for redistribution, leaving this function to be performed mainly by the social security system.
子どもの貧困から格差・不平等が世代ごとに拡大するのを防ぐため、社会保障と教育政策を一体で考えたい……To prevent poverty among children from widening disparity and inequality in each generation, the panel is working on integrated solutions to related social security and education problems. It plans to soon make its proposals for tax reform based on its own viewpoints.
少子高齢化と格差・不平等の深刻化が同時に進む日本の現状への危機感だ。 the nation’s tax system is in urgent need of a major overhaul to deal with serious challenges posed by the aging of the population amid low birthrates and rapidly widening disparity and inequality among the people.
非正規や無業の若者が増え続ければ知識や技能の伝承が途切れ、国全体の成長力が低下しかねない。If the number of young people who are jobless or in nonregular positions keeps increasing, generational transfers of knowledge and skills could be disrupted with dire consequences for the nation’s economic growth.
貧しい高齢者の増加を放置していては、既に不十分な社会保障制度や予算が破綻（はたん）してしまう。If nothing is done to cope with the problem of the growing ranks of poor elderly people, the already troubled social security system and budget will become completely unsustainable.