We are currently living in times of exponentially growing inequality. Top wealth in the United States has returned to the levels that had been accumulated there at the end of the 19th century. After taxes had primarily contributed to promoting inequality until the 19th century, this trend began to reverse. In most instances, income tax contributed to this, but wealth and inheritance taxes also played a role. Comparing industrialised countries in the 20th and 21st century, this lecture examines how this development came about and why taxes no longer slow down the increasing concentration of wealth today. And to which extent did the world wars and the political orientation of governments play a defining role in shaping the respective tax policies?

Speakers:

- Marc Buggeln is Professor for Regional History and Public History at the European University in Flensburg, Germany.

- Hanno Balz is a member of the academic staff at the Duitsland Instituut Amsterdam and a Lektor for the Deutsche Akademische Auslandsdienst.