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Professor Explains Econimics Through Beer

2K views 17 replies 5 participants last post by  TaMMa89 
#1 ·
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:​

  • The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
  • The fifth would pay $1.
  • The sixth would pay $3.
  • The seventh would pay $7.
  • The eighth would pay $12.
  • The ninth would pay $18.
  • The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that’s what they decided to do.​
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.” Drinks for the ten now cost just $80 total.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.​
And so:​

  • The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
  • The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
  • The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
  • The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 ( 25% savings).
  • The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings).
  • The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,”but he got $10!”

Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!

That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!

Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.​
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia​
 
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#2 ·
lol @ title. Economics.

Should be American Tax System.
 
#3 ·
Yes! I agree in UK they don't care about middle class nor poor class. This new PM only believe in High class. His tax systems and government policies only helped higher class to be more richer.

Crazy!!

Regards
 
#4 ·
You must have read it incorrectly, it is in defense of the wealthy. Saying that if you keep taxing them more than everyone else they will out source their business to more friendly labor and etc. South America, Asia, Mexico, etc
 
#5 ·
Example:

Sorta like if the current congress and president raises taxes up on the wealthy, it won't create more jobs or wealth for the middle class. More of them will be out of a job. The wealthy will not lose money they will just fire employees cut corners until they are making what they were before, or more.
 
#7 ·
Lol, unless you're on the end that has to pay more :|!!!
 
#9 ·
Now you think that I'm nut but I pay my taxes willingly :wink:.
 
#10 ·
I do as well, but paying 33% and probably 40% this next year will suck... massively.
 
#12 ·
Ohh... Sounds pretty high. I don't know how high tax rates we have but when I got a labor market supports (ca. 25 euros per day) for few months in the last year I had to pay 20% taxes. Now I haven't any incomes so I need pay nothing.
 
#16 ·
The rates to be reversed. :)
 
#13 ·
In the UK it's 20% up to £34,800, 40% thereafter, but next year they're reintroducing the 10% band up to £2,230.

I think you're taxed on your income over the personal allowance (~£6000), but I can't be sure. I'd just use an online tax calculator to check, probably.
 
#14 ·
US:


  • 10% on income between $0 and $8,025
  • 15% on the income between $8,025 and $32,550; plus $802.50
  • 25% on the income between $32,550 and $78,850; plus $4,481.25
  • 28% on the income between $78,850 and $164,550; plus $16,056.25
  • 33% on the income between $164,550 and $357,700; plus $40,052.25
  • 35% on the income over $357,700; plus $103,791.75
 
#17 ·
Over here it seems to be this during that year:

Withholding percent -> Earnings limit in euros.
0.0% -> 0 to 1,420 euros
11.0 -> over 1,420 to 13,700 euros.
40.0% -> over 13,700 euros.

Then there is a solid percent for few allowances just like my labor market support was. If you don't give your tax deduction card to your employer who takes the tax off from your salary he has to do it with 60.0%.

Honestly, I'm not very smart with taxes because I haven't got taxable incomes or allowances a lot during my 19 living years. I had a short summer job in the last summer and I got something around 230 euros and I had to pay something. I'm not sure if that was a tax or pension contribution or something.

Luckily there's always mommy and daddy who can advise me :wink:.
 
#18 ·
I just had a little discussion with my parents about this few minutes ago. Seems that there have perhaps happened a some kind of mistake few years ago as to my summer job and tax refunds (I got something aroud 360 euros salary and they took a 60 euros withholding even if the lowest earnings limit was remarkably higher than this 360 euros so my withholding percent has had to be 0. I know that there are some other fees that the government seizes from the salary but them can't be that high. And if the taxman took a withholding even if the withhold percent was 0 I should have got the withhold back with tax refunds but I remember that I got nothing.)


I think I try to clarify what happened and hope that I'll get some €uros :wink:.
 
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