Part Five V › Division III III › Section 534 534

The Distribution of Income and Wealth

Subject Outline

AThe distribution of wealth and income by categories of the population
- 1The nature and measurement of wealth and income
- 2Methods of classifying the distribution of wealth and income
  - aDistribution by factor shares: wages, profits, interest, and rent
  - bDistribution according to the number of persons in various classes of wealth and income
- 3Patterns of wealth and income distribution among various countries and among persons within a country
  - aFrequency distributions
  - bComparisons among wealth and income groups
BThe routes by which government affects the distribution of wealth and income
- 1The national budget as the program of the government's revenues and expenditures
- 2The nature and purposes of taxation
  - aPrinciples of taxation; e.g., adequacy, adaptability, universality, ability to pay
  - bThe effect of taxes on the distribution of income: progressive and regressive taxes
  - cThe burden of taxation: the problem of shifting and incidence
  - dCharacteristics of national tax systems: comparisons of tax burdens
- 3Kinds of taxes
  - aTaxes on real and personal property
  - bSales and excise taxes
  - cTariffs and export taxes
  - dTaxes on personal income and capital gains
  - eTaxes on corporate income and excess profits
  - fDeath and gift taxes
  - gSocial security and payroll taxes
- 4Transfers and subsidies
  - aInterest payments on the public debt [see B.5., below]
  - bSubsidies and tax concessions
  - cGovernment-sponsored and government-administered welfare programs
- 5The financing of budgetary deficits and surpluses
- 6Direct controls over the private sector
  - aPrice, wage, and profit control
  - bControl of restrictive practices: antitrust legislation, regulations imposed upon public utilities, labour legislation imposed on unions [see also 532.C.1.d.]
  - cEconomic mobilization for war