A new Gallup survey for Berlingske newspaper has found that 88 percent of Danes don’t mind paying taxes to help support Danish society.
Bent Greve, a welfare researcher at Roskilde University, was surprised that many Danes were so positively inclined to paying taxes as the nation still battles to emerge from the financial crisis.
“It shows that Danes generally back the welfare state’s way of functioning,” Greve told Berlingske.
“The crisis has shown people that it can be difficult to find a job. That strengthens the common feeling and the admission that it if one needs help, they should get it.”
READ MORE: IT blunder could cost taxman millions
Too much bureaucracy
But, despite the vast majority of Danes agreeing that taxes should be paid, it’s another story all together when it comes to the amount paid, and where it ends up going.
Almost half the Danes asked said that it would be a benefit if taxes were reduced, and nearly a third didn’t want their tax money going to people who don’t contribute anything financially to society.
Furthermore, close to another third said they believed that their tax money was being wasted on bureaucracy and administration, while 20 percent felt they were being punished financially for putting in extra effort.
