Italy gains a position and moves close to the podium. Unfortunately, however, the ranking is not the most honorable, given that we are talking about tax burden. With an increase from 42,6% in 2011 to 44% of 2012, our country bypasses Finland and positions itself ranked fourth in the Eurozone. By extending the analysis to the entire European Union, however, Italy is placed in sixth position, also in this case rising by one step compared to the previous year.
The numbers are contained in the latest bulletin of the Bank of Italy, which compares the public finance statistics in the EU countries. Compared to our country, in the currency area the weight of the tax authorities is higher only in Belgium (47,1% of GDP), France (46,9%) and Austria (44,2%). Finland follows with 43,5%. On average in the Eurozone, the tax burden is 41,5%.
As for the deficit, on the other hand, Italy with its 3% ranks among the virtuous. The other members of the Piigs are far behind: Spain (10,6%), Greece (10%), Ireland (7,6%) Portugal (6,4%). Worse than us are France (4,8%) and the Netherlands (4,1%).
