【Introduction】 イ I’d like to talk about the topic, “The haves and have-nots” ロ There has been heated discussion concerning whether the income gap between rich and poor is growing in Japan. It is easy to find homeless people living in tents in public parks in large cities.
ハ We should think about how we can move closer to being a truly equitable society. I’d like to stress two points. 【Body】 「Case1」 イ The society has to be flexible enough that losers in one bottle can pick themselves up and fight in another one. ロ Some degree of income inequality is inevitable. But we have to avoid a society where income inequality is irremediable and losers find it difficult to rise to new challenges. ハ It should not be hard for managers to set up new enterprises once they go bankrupt. Children of low-income earners should have the benefit of employment, education or training. 「Case2」 イ We have to review the tax system for upgrading the safety net for the people who are forced to accept low incomes.
It is necessary to levy higher income taxes on higher-income earners and decreasing the taxes on lower-income people. ハ The income gap grew larger because of the long slump of the 1990s. And the gap was further aggravated by the lowering of the maximum income tax rate adopted in 1999. 【Conclusion】 We have to realize an equitable and efficient society.