Taxing Inherited Wealth: A Philosophical Argument

Abstract

Tax reform is, as it should be, a major issue on the political agenda. Wealth taxation should form part of the basis of that agenda if any of the goals, particularly that of equality of opportunity, which we cherish as a civilized and democratic society, are to be realized.Maureen A. Maloney,“Distributive Justice: That is the Wealth Tax Issue,”(1988) 20 Ottawa L. Rev. 601 at 635.After two decades of decline and indifference in the Anglo-American world, the subject of taxing inherited wealth has recently begun to resurface. In the past five years, the number of books and articles on the topic has shown a noticeable increase. And in Ontario, Canada’s most populous and industrialized province, the unexpected election of the New Democratic Party in September 1991, promising to reintroduce a provincial succession duty, has put the issue back on the political agenda.