You take charge, Mr Brown!

The left-wing daily die tageszeitung praises the British initiative, noting that although cutting VAT would be expensive for the German government the UK has found a good solution: "The plan is to offset the tax deficit with higher income taxes for the rich later on. That's the way to go! This would mean that at the same time you address a social imbalance that has existed for too long in Germany too. Shifting the main burden of financing the state from direct taxes - or consumption taxes - to indirect taxes would mean that high earners cover a greater proportion of public expenses once more. Who would have thought that you could ever want the UK as a model for fiscal policy. But that's the way it is. Mr Brown, we'll let you take charge!"

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