Billionaires often pay less tax than the middle class. Not for technical reasons, but because there is a lack of political will to change this. It is a question of fairness. And a question of democracy.
French economist Gabriel Zucman is one of the most internationally renowned researchers on tax justice and wealth concentration. For years, he has been demonstrating how extreme wealth systematically evades taxation. The consequences are clear: governments lose billions in revenue, societies lose faith in equality before the law, and democracies lose their scope for action.
This trend is also clearly visible in Germany. Wealth is distributed more unevenly here than in most other countries. Society has become richer, but not more equitable. The post-war society of widespread prosperity has given way to a society based on inheritance. At the same time, there is a lack of public funds for investment in infrastructure, education, health, and public services, even though the money is available.
Zucman's answer is clear. He advocates a minimum tax for the ultra-rich. In his new book, “Reichensteuer. Aber richtig!”, which will be published in German in early 2026, he explains how taxation can consistently implement the principle of equality. Income tax, once a key democratic advance, would thus be perfected. Even billionaires would actually be included.
We will discuss this with guests from academia, journalism, civil society, and politics:
- Gabriel Zucman, Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Director of the European Tax Observatory
- Julia Friedrichs, Journalist, Author, and Filmmaker
- Julia Jirmann, Advisor on Tax Law and Tax Policy at the Tax Justice Network
- Tim Klüssendorf, Member of the German Bundestag, Secretary-General of the SPD
- Moderator: Sarah Ganter, Director, Sustainable Development programme, Global Policy Forum Europe (GPFE Europe)
You can find more information in the programme.
We cordially invite you to join us in discussing the causes of wealth concentration and political ways to effectively counteract it, both in Germany and internationally. We will also explore the question of why fair taxation is a prerequisite for a functioning democracy.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. You can register until 25 January on the Friedrich-Ebert Stifung's website. The principle of first come, first served applies.
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in German–English/English–German. We will also provide a live stream via our YouTube channel. Further information will be sent via email and published on the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung's website.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
