Slashdot Mirror
From Bicycles To Washing Machines: Sweden To Give Tax Breaks For Repairs (mnn.com)
jenningsthecat writes: The Swedish government is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to encouraging the repair of stuff that would otherwise be thrown away, according to both The Guardian and Fast Company. The country's Social Democrat and Green party coalition have submitted proposals to Parliament that would reduce the value-added-tax (VAT) on bicycle, clothing, and shoe repairs from 25% to 12%. Also proposed is an income tax deduction equalling half the labor cost of repairing household appliances. According to The Guardian, "the incentives are part of a shift in government focus from reducing carbon emissions produced domestically to reducing emissions tied to goods produced elsewhere." Per Bolund, Sweden's Minister for Financial Markets and Consumer Affairs, said the policy also tied in with international trends around reduced consumption and crafts, such as the "maker movement" and the sharing economy, both of which have strong followings in Sweden. The VAT cut may create more jobs for immigrants as it could spur the creation of a new home-repairs service industry. Also, from a science standpoint, the incentives could help cut the cost of carbon emissions on the planet as it should in theory reduce emissions linked to consumption. "I believe there is a shift in view in Sweden at the moment. There is an increased knowledge that we need to make our things last longer in order to reduce materials' consumption," Bolund said. The Guardian's report concludes: "The proposals will be presented in parliament as part of the government's budget proposals and if voted through in December will become law from January 1, 2017."
I doubt this will be a compelling incentive if the cost of repair labor in Sweden is comparable to that in the United States. People don't repair things because (a) many are deliberately designed not to be easily reparable and (b) the labor cost of the "experts" is disproportionate to the value of having it repaired. Shaving a little bit off the sales tax of the bill is not going to offset the disproportionate cost of the alleged expertise.
Until you figure out that the tax cut is not to corporations and the rich, but to regular people, and alt-right heads explodes instead.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Before rescuing the planet from carbon emissions the Swedes might want to rescue their country first:
SWEDEN IN CHAOS: Number of ‘no-go zones’ INCREASED as police lose control over violence
Sweden turns on migrants amid rise in violence and sex attacks
Sweden on the BRINK: Malmö in flames as vengeful thugs set cars alight
...we can't shop our way to a greener future? Consumer choice of which soon-to-be-landfill products isn't going to prevent climate change?!
The immigrants set lots of cars on fire all the time.
Where I live towards the end of August more or less all the windows in the area center had been smashed and two weeks ago a car was lit on fire on "my" parking loot, someone had to set the youth center and music and dancing activity center on fire as-well as the children facility of the primary care center.
We also have all the immigrants in Malmö who use a in debt / criminal / social low-life "guardian" as owner of their car to not pay any taxes, insurance or parking fees and tickets and then when the cars are eventually removed from the system since no-one will pay all the fines on purchase they are just scrapped and what was it more that I was thinking off ...
Our "environmentalist" (more like "immigrationalists") "progressives" hate any personal responsibility for progression and any progression you can accomplish yourself, but they totally want society to bring it for you, with .. well.. the usual result I guess, which is close to none.
The Social rats dictatorship party know they need the beggars, the complainers, the demands, the free-loaders, the rats, the trouble-makers, the "the situation and actions of and in my life is someone elseÂs fault"-trash people to remain in power so they are so willing to bring in more of them and let them have their way.
Also of course Sweden is a country where vehicles are upgraded with new ones ran on bio gas or ethanol and so on because we all know that's environment friendly to produce as is replacing the vehicle fleet.
It's just a joke. But supposedly it's a good joke and if you're not in then you're a racist fascist anti-democrat.
Oh, and our local municipal home owner (which own lots of homes in this city) has figured out that having a working income will be a demand to get 75% of the apartments they rent out in the most trashy immigrant dense areas whereas in other places of the city for some apartments if you've lived with them or been in queue for over four years (as in not newly arrived immigrant) you will not be able to apply for it.
Because socialists politicians know best. Diversity & multi-culturalism - until the last European is dead and what was Europe is gone.
Sweden cares very much what the US thinks: they changed all of their copyright laws overnight to please the MPAA. It's not like they had any choices of course...
High tax rate but also high return on value to citizens. The US has a very low tax rate but also a very low return back to citizens. What pisses off people is when they pay taxes but get very little to show for it (except a gargantuan military).