INTERVIEW
A report from the Inequalities Observatory, published on Tuesday, determines a "wealth threshold" equivalent to twice the median income, or 3,740 euros per month, after payment of taxes. Agnès Verdier-Molinié, director of the Ifrap foundation (Foundation for research on administrations and public policies), liberal think tank, gets annoyed on Europe 1 of a stigma between rich and poor, and of the methodology of the report. "Why double the median income and say 'from there, we are rich'? 3,740 euros per month is not a huge sum."
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A stigmatization of the "rich"
"I think this study comes out at a rather political time, since lately everyone has emerged from the ideas of taxes on the richest, which are completely off the topic since we are one of the countries that taxes capital the most" she continues. "We have property wealth tax, we still have levels of taxation on dividends, capital gains, business transfers that are among the highest in the world."
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According to her, the report deliberately omits an essential aspect of French society and its economy. "We must also remember that these richest 10% pay more than 50% of the direct taxes paid by French households. If they were not there to pay their taxes, we would not have the possibility of turning our public services ", explains Agnès Verdier-Molinié. She also recalls that among the richest 1%, some are entrepreneurs, who create jobs and invest in France.
The director of the liberal think tank denounces a stigma, with a denomination of "rich", which no longer means anything. "Before we said we were rich from 4,000 euros, now it's 3,500 euros tomorrow how much will it be? We are supposedly always richer, but richer with lower income levels", deplores -she. "The question to ask is how do we increase national wealth per capita, how do we bring everyone up but not how to bring down those who are at the top? There will always be people who will be at the top, and who will be richer, "she says. Before continuing: "It may be necessary to stop thinking rich and poor and pit them against each other."
Ifrap solutions to boost national wealth
Ifrap pleads for several options in order to recreate wealth on French territory, and thus employment. "We are playing the production card in our country by lowering taxes on companies, on investors and explaining to everyone: 'Now we have to rebuild our industry'. We are 10% of the industry in the French wealth while the Germans are at 20% ", explains Agnès Verdier-Molinié.
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"They bet on added value, the creation of highly qualified jobs, by having social charges on well-paid jobs much lower than the ones we have. We have created such high charge levels on wages that are starting to be important that are discouraged from hiring at a high level of qualification, "she continues. The Foundation for research on administrations and public policies also proposes a reduction in charges on the production of companies, up to 30 billion euros. Such a decision, they say, would create 400,000 jobs by 2024.