In a leftist economy, what percentage of taxes are paid by the rich?

[Beet]

High, medium, or low?

If you answered high or medium, you would be wrong. The answer is "low". A low percentage of taxes would be paid for by the rich. Never mind that Progressive politicians are always proposing higher taxes on the rich and a more progressive tax schedule. Why?

Because in in a progressive world, the overall inequality in the economy would be low. And because overall inequality is low, the rich are relatively few in number and not earning as much income compared to the poor and middle class. So even with a very progressive, even punitive, tax schedule, their share of the total tax burden is still lower.

Look at two very extreme cases, a country under what we call 'Democratic-Socialism' and a country under 'Neo-Feudalism'.

In Democratic-Socialism, there are 100,000 families, and 90,000 of them make an average collectively of $60,000 per year. 5,000 make an average of $30,000 per year, and 5,000 make an average of $150,000 per year. The last group is heavily taxed at a 80 percent rate, while the middle group is taxed at a 50 percent rate, and the second group is not taxed. Democratic-Socialism chooses a progressive income tax schedule.
Total income in this country is $6.3 billion.
Total tax revenues are:
90,000 x $60,000 x 50% = $2.7 billion, plus
5,000 x $150,000 x 80% = $600 million
Total tax revenue is $3.3 billion, and of this, the rich pay $600 million, or 18%. The middle class pays 82%.

In Neo-Feudalism, there are also 100,000 families, but 95,000 of them make an average collectively of $20,000 per year. 5,000 families make $880,000 a year. Despite the huge income disparity let's say the denizens of Neo-Feudalism choose to implement a flat tax rate of 20%.
Total income in this country is the same as Democratic-Socialism, at $6.3 billion.
Total tax revenues are:
95,000 x $20,000 x 20% = $380 million, plus
5,000 x $880,000 x 20% = $880 million.
Total tax revenue is $1.26 billion, a lower amount, but that is ok, that is what the citizens of this country chose. However, the rich pay $880 million, or 70%, of the tax burden, while the poor and middle class only pay 30%!

Obviously, if you are poor and middle class, you would rather live in the country where you pay 82% of the tax burden and the country where you only pay 30% of the tax burden would be horrifying. The opposite is true if you are rich-- you would much rather live in the country where you pay 70% of the tax burden and would hate the country where you only pay 18% of the tax burden.

I just thought that was a bit of counter intuitive but interesting exercise.