The Dutch charge 52% taxes
^^That would be the best possible opening line for Going Dutch, an article from the NYTimes Magazine. Wade through the first few paragraphs and you'll get to read what it's like to live in a place where the taxes are at 52% but where the government provides a lot of other benefits.
"In late May of last year an unexpected $4,265 arrived in my account: vakantiegeld. Vacation money. This money materializes in the bank accounts of virtually everyone in the country just before the summer holidays; you get from your employer an amount totaling 8 percent of your annual salary, which is meant to cover plane tickets, surfing lessons, tapas: vacations. And we aren’t talking about a mere “paid vacation” — this is on top of the salary you continue to receive during the weeks you’re off skydiving or snorkeling. And by law every employer is required to give a minimum of four weeks’ vacation. For that matter, even if you are unemployed you still receive a base amount of vakantiegeld from the government, the reasoning being that if you can’t go on vacation, you’ll get depressed and despondent and you’ll never get a job."More of my usual Serial Bus material to follow in future posts.