Why is a consumption tax cut supported? The distrust at the root of the "painful tax" feeling 消費税は、物を買ったり、サービスを受けたりしたときに、かけられる税金だ。消費税は、1979年に導入され、1980年から10％ずつ段階的に税率を上げてきた。1997年から2000年までの間と、2008年から2012年までの間に、5％に据え置かれた期間があるものの、現在は10％となっている。 The consumption tax is a tax applied when purchasing goods or receiving services. The consumption tax was introduced in 1979 and has been gradually increased by 10% every year since 1980. Although it was held at 5% for two periods, from 1997 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, it is currently at 10%. 消費税増税は、財務省や自民党など政治家・官僚が推進してきた。消費税増税は、財政再建に効果があると説明されてきたが、なぜか国民からは支持を得にくい。消費税が上がると、確かに国にはお金が入る。しかし、増税によって、経済が冷え込み、かえって税収が減るという批判がある。 The increase in consumption tax has been promoted by politicians and bureaucrats such as the Ministry of Finance and the Liberal Democratic Party. Although the increase in consumption tax has been explained to be effective in rebuilding finances, for some reason it has not gained support from the public. When the consumption tax increases, the government certainly gains revenue. However, due to the tax increase, the economy slows down and there is criticism that tax revenue conversely decreases. 消費税増税は、確かに増収をもたらす。しかし、その増収分は、結局、医療や介護などの社会保障に使われる。社会保障は、広義には、医療や介護、年金、生活保護など、国民の生活を保障する制度を指す。社会保障は、高齢化や人口減少によって、ますます重要になる。 The increase in consumption tax certainly generates increased revenue. However, that increased revenue is ultimately used for social security such as medical care and nursing care. Social security, in a broad sense, refers to a system that guarantees the people's lives, such as medical care, nursing care, pensions, and livelihood protection. Social security becomes increasingly important due to aging and population decline. 財務省は、消費税増税で増える税収を、社会保障に使わずに、別のところに使うことを検討している。消費税増税で増える税収は、10％に引き上げられた場合、約6.7兆円だ。このうち、約5.6兆円を社会保障に充てる計画だが、残りの約1.1兆円の使い道は、まだ決まっていない。 The Ministry of Finance is considering using the increased revenue from the consumption tax hike for purposes other than social security. The increased revenue from the consumption tax hike is about 6.7 trillion yen when it is raised to 10%. Of this, about 5.6 trillion yen is planned to be allocated to social security, but the use of the remaining about 1.1 trillion yen has not yet been decided. 自民党の税制調査会は、消費税減税について議論を始めた。消費税を減税すれば、国民の負担が軽くなる。消費税減税は、物価高対策や、経済対策として、効果があると主張する向きがある。消費税減税は、なぜ支持されるのか。 The Liberal Democratic Party's Tax System Research Committee has started discussions on consumption tax cuts. If the consumption tax is cut, the burden on the public will be reduced. There are arguments that cutting the consumption tax will be effective as a measure against high prices and as an economic measure. Why is cutting the consumption tax supported? 消費税減税について、賛否両論がある。消費税減税は、確かに、国民の税負担を軽くする。しかし、消費税減税は、増税によって冷え込んだ経済を、押し上げる効果があるのか、疑問視する向きがある。 There are pros and cons regarding consumption tax cuts. Cutting the consumption tax certainly eases the tax burden on the public. However, there are doubts about whether cutting the consumption tax has the effect of boosting an economy that has slowed down due to the tax increase. 消費税は、公平な税金だと言われる。消費税は、所得や職業、性別や年齢に関係なく、物を買ったり、サービスを受けたりしたときに、かけられる税金だからだ。しかし、消費税は、所得が少ない人ほど、負担が重いという批判がある。物を買うためには、収入から一定の金額を捻出する必要があるからだ。 The consumption tax is said to be a fair tax. This is because the consumption tax is applied when purchasing goods or receiving services regardless of income, occupation, gender, or age. However, there is criticism that the consumption tax is regressive, placing a heavier burden on people with lower incomes. This is because in order to purchase goods, a certain amount of money must be secured from income. 消費税減税は、こうした不公平感や、増税によって生じた経済への悪影響に配慮した政策だ。消費税減税は、国民の間での支持を集めやすい。消費税減税は、なぜ支持されるのか。その背景には、消費税増税に対する不信感がある。 Cutting the consumption tax is a policy that takes into account this sense of unfairness and the negative impact on the economy caused by the tax increase. Cutting the consumption tax tends to gain support from the public. Why is cutting the consumption tax supported? Behind this is distrust of the consumption tax increase. 消費税増税は、財務省や自民党が推進してきた。しかし、消費税増税は、経済への悪影響を及ぼす。消費税増税は、確かに増収をもたらすが、その使い道は、国民の間では不透明だ。消費税増税は、財政再建に効果があると説明されてきたが、国民の間では、効果があるのか、疑問視する向きがある。 The increase in consumption tax has been promoted by the Ministry of Finance and the Liberal Democratic Party. However, the increase in consumption tax has had a negative impact on the economy. The increase in consumption tax certainly generates increased revenue, but its use is unclear to the public. Although the increase in consumption tax has been explained to be effective in rebuilding finances
We haven't written up this one. The Asahi Shimbun has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.
