A topper · GS3 · 54 pages

Annaburna Singh: GS3 answer copy

20 answers by Annaburna Singh, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

The answers

Question 1 · 10 marks · 177 words written

What do you understand by Windfall tax? Do you think that windfall taxes can effectively redistribute wealth and promote greater economic equality?

Opening · a definition

Windfall tax is a tax on unprecedented levels of profits made by some companies by illegitimate means.

ex- imposed on several MNCS & big tech during covid-19 times.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
- Ongoing crisis - companies - encashing on situation for ↑ profit - Windfall (WF) tax levied. - ex- Increasing price of sanitisers, masks during covid - fig: levying WF tax

→ Effective redistribution of wealth by Windfall tax:-

(1.) Follows Hecenyian model of taking from rich & giving to poor.

(2.) Progressive taxation as taxes those who gained higher income → promotes inclusive growth

(3.) Profiteers pay principle upheld ex- Defence industry during Russia-Ukraine war to be levied with this tax.

→ Not effective redistribution

(4.) Uncertainty of use of collections from such taxes for vulnerable ex- such collects may be siphoned to other needs.

(5.) can lead to Tax evasions, profit shifting

(6.) Will reduce GFCF (33%) & thus reduce capital formation due to flight of such industries

(7.) Reduce Ease of doing business

Way forward

  • Promote CSR and ESG efforts by companies
  • follow behavioural economics to improve tax to GDP collection
  • incorporate in GST slabs (28%)

Close · a way forward

"Taxation is the economic string crucial to maintain the social contract in economic sphere" - Eco survey '17