regressive
11
8.9
- adjective
- /rɪˈɡrɛsɪv/
- Specialized
:
regresivo
- With respect to wealth, total taxation is much more regressive, especially at the high end.
- regressive tax
- regressive tax system
It is the laziest, most punitive form of taxation, regressive taxation around.
- It is the laziest, most punitive form of taxation, regressive taxation around.
Examples
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The excise tax is a terrible, regressive way to finance the bill.
Blog text (14) -
Total state and local taxes are regressive in every state except Vermont.
Blog text (2) -
It's funded by a sales tax, the most regressive of the options for paying for such things.
Blog text (6) -
A 15% tax on dividend income is the most regressive policy of all.
Blog text (27) -
The best hope for reform is pointing out how regressive the system is.
Blog text (33) -
Yesterday, without consultation, the Prime Minister announced plans to impose a regressive Tory poll tax on millions of Scottish workers.
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The report also asked the federal government to avoid "tuition tax credits, which are regressive and self-defeating."
Academic text (2005) -
First, expenditures on the most widespread form of gambling, state lotteries, are clearly regressive.
Academic text (1996) -
To make up the shortfall, Beijing relies instead on a regressive value-added tax (VAT) to produce more than half of its income.
Academic text (2000) -
Many economists argue that sales taxes are quite regressive, as they disproportionately burden those with lower incomes.
Synonyms
A tax whose rate gets lower as the amount taxed gets larger
A tax rate that gets lower as the amount taxed gets larger
Antonyms
4
3.9
A tax system where people with higher incomes pay a larger percentage of their income
Compounds
- Offensive
A set of left-leaning policies that critics see as moving society backward
How Progressive
Surface Forms
Morphology
regressive = regress (semi-transparent) = re + gress + ive
While morphologically regular (regress + -ive), the specialized fiscal meaning ('tax rates that fall as the taxable amount increases') may not be immediately inferable to all learners from 'regress'.
Etymology
Regressive comes from re- 'back' and gress 'step', just like in progress, and a helpful way to remember it is to think of a step going backwards. So a regressive tax 'steps back' from fairness by placing a larger share of the burden on people with lower incomes.