People being fine with higher taxes is a function of a trustworthy system where tax money actually goes to spending that benefits the tax payer.
If the expectation is that the funds get misplaced/pocketed/diverted along the way your average citizen will be far more willing (and view it as far more morally justifiable) to make efforts to avoid/reduce paying taxes.
I feel you’re heavily underestimating the dreaded combo of public perception and complacency.
From what I’ve seen, there have been plenty of attempts for the traditionally corrupt governments to better themselves, but the populous blocking it by going “yeah, right”.
Same thing with high trust goverments becoming more corrupt and people excusing it with “we have the good government!”
Imagine thinking there is no corruption up there, or no taxes down there
People being fine with higher taxes is a function of a trustworthy system where tax money actually goes to spending that benefits the tax payer.
If the expectation is that the funds get misplaced/pocketed/diverted along the way your average citizen will be far more willing (and view it as far more morally justifiable) to make efforts to avoid/reduce paying taxes.
I feel you’re heavily underestimating the dreaded combo of public perception and complacency.
From what I’ve seen, there have been plenty of attempts for the traditionally corrupt governments to better themselves, but the populous blocking it by going “yeah, right”. Same thing with high trust goverments becoming more corrupt and people excusing it with “we have the good government!”