Gap between rich and poor growing, fuelling global anger: Report | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Gap between rich and poor growing, fuelling global anger: Report

Nairobi (Reuters) | ByReuters
Jan 21, 2019 02:07 PM IST

A new billionaire was created every two days last year, just as the poorest half of the world’s population saw their wealth decline by 11 percent.

Tax systems that put a high burden on the poor mean public services are underfunded, stretching the gap between rich and poor and fuelling global public anger, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International, said on Monday.

Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International(REUTERS)
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International(REUTERS)

The Nairobi-headquarted charity said in a report that a new billionaire was created every two days last year, just as the poorest half of the world’s population saw their wealth decline by 11 percent.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The report, released on Monday as political and business leaders gather for the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said governments are increasingly underfunding public services and failing to clamp down on tax dodging.

Also read: World’s 26 richest own same as poorest half of humanity: Report

“Poor people suffer twice from being deprived of basic services and also paying a higher burden of taxation,” Byanyima said in an interview.

Billionaire fortunes increased by 12 percent last year, or $2.5 billion a day, while the 3.8 billion poorest people saw their wealth drop $500 million every day, Byanyima added.

The charity said tax rates for the rich and corporations had been cut in recent decades. And when governments fail to tax the wealthy, they pass the tax burden on to poor people through consumer levies like value added tax, Byanyima said.

“An indirect tax like that, that taxes salt, sugar or soap, the basics that people need ... then poor people pay relatively more out of their income than rich people,” she said.

Also read: Unpaid work done by women worth 43-times Apple’s annual turnover: Report

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On