progressive

English translation: Liberal, open-minded, broad-minded, maybe even radical.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:progressive
Selected answer:Liberal, open-minded, broad-minded, maybe even radical.
Entered by: Suzan Hamer

22:32 Mar 5, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Law: Taxation & Customs
English term or phrase: progressive
I can't quite understand the meaning of the word ''progressive'' as used in this context:

'' Restoring Consumer Confidence

People’s fears about unemployment, loss of pensions and home repossessions have paralysed the economy.

Almost half our GDP comes from consumer spending. Retail sales in Ireland have fallen at a rate of 8 per cent, compared to the EU average of one to two per cent.

We need to see dramatic and *progressive* moves on the VAT rate. Forcing working families to pay for the crisis will end up costing us jobs.''

The complete trade union statement can be found at this address:
http://www.wrp.org.uk/news/4003

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Grzegorz Mysiński
Poland
Local time: 06:42
liberal, open-minded, broad-minded, maybe even radical.
Explanation:
In other words, taking actions that might be considered radical or unheard of, such as probably lowering VAT which might encourage people to buy more.
Selected response from:

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 06:42
Grading comment
Thank you, Suzan!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
2 +3to bear more heavily on the wealthy than on the poor
Jack Doughty
4 +1tax system targeting the wealthy - the higher the income, the higher % of taxes to be paid
Michael Powers (PhD)
5moves to change the VAT tax
Gary D
4liberal, open-minded, broad-minded, maybe even radical.
Suzan Hamer
4favoring or promoting reform (by government action)
Joyce A
4(VAT rates) which target goods that are normally consumed by the higher-income groups.
argosys
4forward-looking; forward-thinking
David Moore (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
liberal, open-minded, broad-minded, maybe even radical.


Explanation:
In other words, taking actions that might be considered radical or unheard of, such as probably lowering VAT which might encourage people to buy more.

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 06:42
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you, Suzan!
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
to bear more heavily on the wealthy than on the poor


Explanation:
The reference to "forcing working families to pay makes me think they are using "progressive" in the same sense as it is used of income tax.
"Progressive" taxation means that as you earn more, you not only pay more, but pay at a higher rate, which may increase as your earnings increase.
I'm not sure how this would work in the case of VAT. It might mean charging VAT at a higher rate on luxury goods. I don't see how it could be tied to income in any more direct way.

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:42
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Powers (PhD): exactly, Jack - Mike :)
1 min
  -> Thank you.

agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
18 hrs
  -> Тhank you.

agree  Phong Le
1 day 10 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
tax system targeting the wealthy - the higher the income, the higher % of taxes to be paid


Explanation:
Mike :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2009-03-05 22:44:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A fixed rate for everyone is considered a "regressive" instead of "progressive" system since poorer peole need their income for subsistence.

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 01:42
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wagner Azevedo
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Wagner - Mike :)
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
moves to change the VAT tax


Explanation:
"We need to see dramatic and progressive moves on the VAT rate. Forcing working families to pay for the crisis will end up costing us jobs.''
If they don't start to do something dramatic and make a positive intelligent (Progressive) move to decreasing the VAT (GST) rate. ...... IF we don't do this ..... We are forcing working families to pay for the crisis, (by paying too much VAT) this will end up costing us jobs (us = working families) as they will stop buying goods and services because of the price.

Gary D
Local time: 15:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
favoring or promoting reform (by government action)


Explanation:
Although the word "progressive" does have the definition of adjusting taxes so that the rate increases as the amount of income increases.

However, in this case, I believe "progressive" takes on another of its definitions of "favoring or promoting reform (by government action).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2009-03-06 04:12:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Pardon the above sentence construction. I decided to break up one sentence into two but didn't make the adjustments...However, I'm sure you can get the gist. :-)

Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 12:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(VAT rates) which target goods that are normally consumed by the higher-income groups.


Explanation:
VAT is essentially regressive because they affect all goods across the board, including consumption goods of the lower income groups. This means that the poor spend a greater percentage of their income on goods that are hit by VAT but which the higher income group spend less on. By selectively imposing VAT on goods that the higher income groups consume but not on basic necessities, the tax structure will become progressive.

argosys
Local time: 13:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
forward-looking; forward-thinking


Explanation:
Not just to tomorrow, but to the day after - even if that's well after the next election... It's a sad fact that few politicians ever look beyond the next election, even for the sake of the country, and this is very obviously the plaint here. As expressed by a non-politician...

David Moore (X)
Local time: 06:42
Native speaker of: English
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