The wealth tax, which is currently the subject of intense debate, is a selective tax levied on the wealthy. It is an additional tax to income and property taxes and is applied in several countries, including France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Switzerland. Furthermore, in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, the United States and the United Kingdom raised tax rates. "The first principle is always to broaden the tax base, so that the goal is achieved." There are three principles of taxation, dating back to a quote by the 17th-century French politician Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who called for "plucking the goose in order to get the most feathers with the least hissing."
