Fairness of the income tax system
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Introduction
In this activity, students learn that Australia has a progressive income tax system and investigate whether the income tax system is fair and designed to benefit the common good.
Achievement standard
By the end of Year 8, students explain how markets influence the allocation of resources to the production of goods and services. They explain ways that businesses adapt to opportunities in markets and respond to the work environment. They describe the importance of Australia’s taxation system and its effect on decision-making by individuals and businesses. Students explain why individuals and/or businesses budget and plan.
Students develop a range of questions to investigate an economic and business issue. They locate, select and organise relevant information and data. They interpret information and data to identify economic and business issues and trends, and describe economic cause-and-effect relationships. They develop a response to an economic and business issue. They identify and evaluate potential costs and benefits. Students use economic and business knowledge, concepts, terms and research findings to create descriptions and explanations.
Content descriptions
Economics and Business Knowledge and Understanding
The importance of Australia’s system of taxation and how this system affects decision-making by individuals and businesses. (AC9HE8K04)
Economics and Business Skills
Interpret information and data to identify economic and business issues, trends and economic cause-and-effect relationships. (AC9HE8S03)
Develop a response to an economic and business issue, identifying potential costs and benefits. (AC9HE8S04)
Create descriptions and explanations, using economic and business knowledge, concepts and terms, and referencing information and data from sources. (AC9HE8S05)
Teacher resources
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Ethical principles
Income tax and the redistribution of income
Student learning resources
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Is Income tax fair?
Other resources you might like
Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group.
- Think-pair-share: What is the difference between equality and equity?
- Brainstorm real-world examples of each.
- Display the Ethical principles – Visualiser and discuss ethical principles and the difference between equality, equity and justice.
- Discuss any differences between the views of students before and after they viewed the visualiser.
- Display and explain information on the Income tax and the redistribution of income – Visualiser.
- Use a grouping strategy to organise students into groups of 4.
- As a class, read the investigation.
- Groups complete parts 1-3 of the investigation.
Use a discussion strategy to support collaboration and participation, such as talking cards.
- Groups share their answers, with justifications, to the 2 questions they were asked to consider:
- Do you think the progressive income system in Australia is fair?
- Is the tax system designed to benefit the common good?
- Students individually complete part 4 of the investigation.
- If time permits, invite students to present their introductions to the conference.