Commentary and Notes to Text 20.7.1.3

Incurs costs — вызывает (влечет) издержки

Emerge — появляться

3. swap = swop — обмен

Be prone to... — быть склонным к чему-либо

Explicit anti-inflation objective — четко определенная, ясная антиинфляционная цель

20.7.1.4. Read the text "Large differences in the Tax Burden between Member States of the

European Union (EU)" and answer the question: Which countries have the greatest tax rates?

Work with a partner.

Large Differences in the Tax Burden between Member States

Among the Member States there are substantial differences regarding the total tax burden. Sweden

recorded the highest tax-to-GDP ratio (50,6% in 2002), followed by Denmark (48,9%), Belgium

(46,6%) and Finland (45,9%). The lowest ratios were observed in Ireland (28,6), Lithuania (28,8),

Latvia and Malta(31,3% each) and Cyprus (32,5%).

In 2004 as compared with 2001, the tax burden declined in 16 out of 25 Member States. Poland

(from 41,2% to 39,1%), Ireland (from 30,5% to 28,6%), Sweden (from 52,2% to 50,6%) and the

United Kingdom (from 37,3% to 35,8%) recorded the largest reductions. The tax-to-GDP ratio

Increased in 8 out of 25 Member States, the highest increases being recorded for Luxembourg

(from 40,7% to 41,9%) and the Czech Republic (from 34,3% to 35,4%).

Table 20.1. Tax burden,burden,burden, structure of taxes and top statutory tax rates

Total taxes Indirect taxes Direct taxes Social

Security

Contributions

Top

Statutory

Personal

Income