Balancing Act of Social Systems – The Call for a Fairer Distribution of Burdens

In times when buzzwords such as "social justice" and "redistributive tax policy" are in the air, the call for a more balanced equilibrium of various social security systems grows louder. The discussion revolves around the proposal to tear down the existing wall between statutory and private social insurance. Experts argue that a more unified system could lead to a fairer distribution of burdens within society. However, the need for adjustment is not only seen in social insurances. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening, and a debate on the taxation of unearned income, which also includes inheritances, is gaining momentum. Demands for a more rigorous taxation of these types of income are being proposed— not least to ensure that financially powerful groups contribute more to the financing of public tasks. Thus, a picture emerges in which social responsibility is to be recalibrated and the distribution of obligations rethought. For in a social structure where increased defense spending and growing social expenditures stand in opposition, the harmonious distribution of burdens and benefits is repeatedly tested. A change in perspective seems inevitable if one wishes to fully grasp the implications of public budget decisions in terms of social justice.