|
Marx,
and the role of taxation in the capitalist system.
Marx's Capital was written to explain the rules and
laws governing the functioning
of the capitalist system. What Marx was able to show was that capitalism functioned on a multitude of levels, some more obvious than others. This essay analyses one of those levels as seen by Marx; the role of taxation in the capitalist system. Analysed is Marx's belief that taxation, particularly high taxation, is used in the capitalist system as a form of social control. It shows that high taxation, in such a role, is of limited value as it is as likely to cause social instability as it is to reduce it. Also analysed is Marx's belief that the state not only benefits from capitalism, through an increase in its ability to tax production, but that the state designs the tax system to benefit the capitalist system. As such, taxation becomes an important element in the advancement and development of the capitalist system over the long term. For Marx, taxation can be used
by capitalism for ensuring social stability, by
keeping the working class in line. Marx, using the example of De Witt writes: Over-taxation is not an accidental
occurrence, but rather a principle. [It is] . . .
the best system for making the wage-labourer submissive, frugal, industrious . . . and overburdened with work.1 What Marx is saying, is that
the state, possibly with the support of the bourgeoisie,
use high levels of taxation, for instance, with income tax on wages, to keep the working class working, and therefore producing, and under control. Because income taxes are kept high the labourers are forced to work long hours in order to earn a sufficient, or at least the minimum, level of wages to live. As long as they are working they are making profits for the bourgeoisie, and are less likely to be causing the state a problem. In this sense, taxation is seen as an inducement to work longer hours than otherwise may have been the case to make up for what is lost in taxes. In fact, as Marx argued, the dependence of the masses on wages is an essential element in maintaining the capitalist system over the long term. To ensure this, the role of the state is to "regulate" wages, which is designed "to keep the worker himself at his normal level of dependence" to the capitalist system.2 Taxation would be one way of regulating the level of real wages. Moreover, taxes, as Marx notes, also raise the cost of "the most necessary means of subsistence."3 In other words, taxes raise the cost of living, which would naturally affect those on the lowest incomes the most; the labourers. So taxes not only reduce the level of real income of the workers, but also raise the cost of subsistence, which Marx sees as an inducement to keep the labourers working, if for no other reason than to feed themselves and their families. Furthermore, if worker's wages are kept low, by whatever measure, then their ability to stop working (go on strike) is reduced, as they have not the financial reserves to sustain themselves over a long period. Yet taxation as a mechanism
of social control would be of limited value at best if
used in isolation. Rather, if it is to be seen as a tool of social control, it should be seen as one of a multitude of economic and other mechanisms used to maintain social stability in order to allow the capitalist system to function. As such, taxation would be but one device in a whole series of economic mechanisms, that operate collectively to maintain the capitalist system. Of course, the problem with
seeing high taxes as a form of social control, is that a
too high level of taxation, is as likely to cause social and political instability as it is to keep the labourers 'overburdened with work'. An example of this would be the role of taxation in the American War of Independence. For this reason taxation does not seem to be a very good tool of social and political control. Marx also recognises the role
of the national debt in the creation of the capitalist
system. For instance, Marx sees a relationship between the need for the state to repay its debts and the creation of a modern tax system. Marx writes: As the national debt is backed
by the revenues of the state, which must cover
the annual interest payments etc., the modern system of taxation was the necessary complement of the system of national loans.4 In effect, what Marx is arguing,
is that the constant pressure on the state to repay its
debts, was a significant factor in the creation of capitalism and a modern tax system. One reason for this must be that those who have lent the state money, such as the banks, used their power as creditors to push the state in this direction.5 In fact, Marx sees the value
of a capitalist mode of production to the state itself, by
increasing the state's ability to raise tax revenues. Because capitalism is based on the production of ever increasing amounts and types of commodities, this gives the state the ability to raise very large revenues by taxing these commodities. Marx uses the example of revolutionary America when he writes: One of the new taxes . . . was
the duty of 6 per cent 'on all industrial products'.
Question: What is an industrial product? Answer . . . A thing is produced 'when it is made', and it is made when it is ready for sale.6 Indeed, as Marx showed, many
commodities are made by combining separate
industrial products, where each of these separate products, and when combined to make another product, become liable to attract a tax.7 Clearly, an industrial mode
of production that produces ever more complex
commodities offers the state enormous and growing opportunities to expand the taxation system. Even if initially somewhat pushed into creating a tax system friendly to capitalism because of its indebtedness, the state would soon realise the advantages to itself in promoting such a mode of production. As both the volume and number of commodities increase so does the state's potential revenue base. This gives the state the ability to repay its debts sooner, and to raise even larger loans in the future. The interpretation of what constitutes a taxable commodity or service becomes the basis of such a tax system. As the types of commodities and services produced become more complex, so the opportunities for the state to raise revenue would tend to increase. For the state, rising tax revenues become "the 'natural fruits' of capitalist development".8 In such a situation the state
becomes closely tied to the capitalist system. Not only
would taxes be created to raise revenue for the state, they would be made to advance the interests of the capitalist system itself. Since a modern tax system is a necessary economic structure for the capitalist system, it would make sense for the state to have taxes that were designed to advance the development of the system, which would also ensure the maintenance of the state's revenues over the long term. An example of this would be tariffs to protect new and developing industries, what Marx calls, "[a] system of protection [as] an artificial means of manufacturing manufacturers . . ."9 Taxes then, become a central mechanism in the evolution of the capitalist system. They help the capitalist system to develop and mature, even possibly acting as a form of catalyst for further development in some instances, through the creation of an economic environment designed to attract new types of investment and new types of industries. In conclusion, taxation in
the capitalist system from Marx's is perspective, plays a
number of different roles. Not only does it simply raise revenue for the state, but it has a role in maintaining and developing the capitalist system. Taxation is one way of keeping the masses dependent on wages, by reducing the real spending power of wages. Therefore taxation appears to play a role in maintaining the social relations of capitalism, that is, the existence of the proletariat, and its subordination to the bourgeoisie. But as a form of social and political control, to control the actions of the proletariat, taxes appear to be of marginal use at best. In fact, using high taxationas a mechanism to control a society or people would be a dangerous policy, as taxation is one of the major causes of social instability, even rebellion. On the other hand, taxation
as a mechanism to advance the interests and
development of the capitalist system, is a more realistic role for taxation. Since the state is dependent on some form of revenue raising, then any mode of production that allows the state to raise large revenues is very likely indeed to receive the support of the state. Therefore it makes sense for the state to create a tax system that benefits both itself and the capitalist system. As such, taxation plays a role in maintaining the system, and in setting the stage for the next phase of development. Clearly, from this perspective, the taxation system is an integral part in the functioning of the capitalist mode of production. ------------------------------------------------------
ENDNOTES:
1. K. Marx, Capital: Volume1, London: Penguin Books, 1976,
p. 921.
2. Ibid., pp. 899 - 900.
3. Ibid., p. 921.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid., p. 920.
6. Ibid., pp. 475 - 476, (In
footnotes, No. 35).
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., p. 705.
9. Ibid., p. 921.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
REFERENCE:
Marx, K. 1976. Capital: Volume 1. London: Penguin Books.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Online Reference: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~johnthorpe64/Marx_Taxation.html |