Wealth tax predicted as anger over inequality 'reaches boiling point'

Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens predicts some form of tax on wealth will be "get over the line" in the mid 2020s. Photo / Dave Murdoch

By RNZ

Rising public anger about growing inequality is likely to force the imposition of a capital gains or wealth tax in the next few years, according to the chief economist of Westpac.

In its latest monthly report the bank's economists said the economy had done better than expected as it absorbed the shock of a global pandemic and the absence of international visitors.

The report said the economy had been damaged by Covid-19 but had not been as scarred as might have been feared. The bank revised its forecasts, with a strong rebound in growth next year, a lower peak for unemployment, and a continued surge in house prices.

"By mid-2021 we expect house price inflation will be 15 per cent, roughly the same as 2016," Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said.

"The political and social fallout will be just as intense as it was back then."

Stephens said rising house prices were an unintended consequence of the Reserve Bank's interest rate cuts, but he did not expect the central bank would change its low-rates policies, and still believed it would take its official cash rate below zero.

The government's big spending to support the economy through the pandemic was not sustainable in the long run and governments in the future would have to spend less or tax more, he said.

"My pick is that some form of tax on wealth, land or capital gains will get over the line in the mid-2020s, when societal dissatisfaction with rising wealth inequality reaches boiling point," Stephens said.

Last year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised she would never introduce a capital gains tax (CGT) while prime minister. She also ruled out the Green Party's proposed wealth tax during the election campaign.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ruled out the Green Party's proposed wealth tax during the election campaign. Photo / Getty Images

Among Westpac's revised forecasts are a peak unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent, which is about the same as the 2009 recession, while the economy will shrink by 4.2 per cent this year, but rebound with annual growth of 6.1 per cent in 2021.

The surge in house prices is expected to trigger the return of loan-to-value ratios on risky lending, although Westpac doubted they would do much.

"Based on the experience with LVRs since 2013, we expect that the reintroduction of lending restrictions will take a little of the steam out of the property market, but this won't be a game changer," the report said.

It also forecast borders would remain closed until mid-2021 when Australians would start to be allowed in, while other visitors would be kept out until at least September next year.