Tax instruments in the system of factors of the state's impact on inequality

Abstract

Monetary inequality is a serious socio-economic problem both for Russia and for many countries. The implementation of tools for smoothing inequality today becomes a condition for ensuring Russia's national security and sustainable development around the world. The level of inequality and poverty in Russia is at a very high level. The degree of inequality has not been reduced for 30 years, that is, in fact, since the beginning of the period of market reforms and privatization, despite the measures taken by the government. And even in the current very difficult financial and economic conditions, the task of reducing inequality remains a key direction of socio-economic policy. This task has been set today at the highest state level. The above makes it urgent to develop and implement a set of measures to influence the state on inequality. The subject of the study is the socio-economic relations of the state and citizens regarding the smoothing of monetary inequality in terms of determining the configuration of factors of state influence. Within the framework of the study, the factors of the state's impact on inequality are systematized and classified. As such, the following are considered: income, property and indirect taxation of citizens, state social transfers (pensions, benefits, social programs), monetary policy, labor market regulation, macroeconomic policy to ensure growth. It is shown that the main state instrument in the field of smoothing inequality in Russia are state social transfers. The potential of personal income tax is practically not realized, despite the fact that the world experience of smoothing inequality is focused primarily on income taxation. The prospects of development in the impact of the state on inequality are determined. Advantages and disadvantages of tax instruments are noted. The directions of improving income, indirect, and property taxation of citizens to reduce inequality are proposed.