Atkinson A B
Nuffield College, University of Oxford; INET at the Oxford Martin School; London School of Economics and Political Science.
Br J Sociol. 2014 Dec;65(4):619-38. doi: 10.1111/1468-4446.12105.
In this paper, I take Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty as the starting point for a set of twelve policy proposals that could bring about a genuine shift in the distribution of income towards less inequality. In designing the set of proposals, I draw on the experience of reducing inequality in postwar Europe and on an analysis as to how the economic circumstances are now different in the twenty-first century, highlighting the role of technical change and the rise in capital emphasized by Piketty. The proposed measures span many fields of policy, and are not confined to fiscal redistribution, encompassing science policy, competition policy, public employment, a guaranteed return on small savings, a capital endowment, as well as more progressive taxation of income and wealth transfers, and a participation income. Inequality is embedded in our social structure, and the search for a significant reduction requires us to examine all aspects of our society. I focus on inequality within countries, and what can be achieved by national governments, with the UK specifically in mind. The primary audience is those concerned with policy-making in national governments, but implementation should not be seen purely in these terms. There are different levels of government, and certain proposals, particularly those concerned with taxation, may only be feasible if pursued by a group of countries in collaboration. The last of the twelve proposals - for a basic income for children - is specifically directed at the European Union. Finally, actions by individuals as consumers, as workers, or as employers, can all contribute to reducing inequality.
在本文中，我以托马斯·皮凯蒂的《21世纪资本论》为出发点，提出了十二项政策建议，这些建议能够切实推动收入分配向减少不平等的方向转变。在设计这些建议时，我借鉴了战后欧洲减少不平等的经验，以及对21世纪经济环境差异的分析，突出了皮凯蒂所强调的技术变革和资本增加的作用。提议的措施涵盖了许多政策领域，并不局限于财政再分配，包括科学政策、竞争政策、公共就业、小额储蓄的保证回报、资本捐赠，以及对收入和财富转移实行更累进的税收，还有参与性收入。不平等根植于我们的社会结构之中，要大幅减少不平等，就需要我们审视社会的各个方面。我关注的是国家内部的不平等，以及各国政府能够实现的目标，尤其以英国为考量对象。主要受众是那些关注各国政府政策制定的人，但实施不应仅从这些角度来看待。政府有不同层级，某些提议，特别是那些与税收有关的提议，可能只有在一群国家合作推行时才可行。十二项提议中的最后一项——为儿童提供基本收入——特别针对欧盟。最后，个人作为消费者、工人或雇主所采取的行动，都有助于减少不平等。
