Dates
| weekly | Friday | 10:15 - 11:45 | 12.10.2026 - 29.01.2027 | C 12.013 Seminarraum |
Curriculum context
two response papers (25%)
Resit date: No resit date will be offered to this assessment, because it is didactically inseparably connected with one of the associated courses. A resit will only be possible, if the module is available again.
Organizational information
Registration
Registration does not begin until 02.10.2026 at 08:00. It ends on 12.10.2026 at 23:59.
The registration is restricted to the following fields or courses of study:
- Lehren und Lernen / Unterrichtsfach Politik / alle Semester
- Leuphana Bachelor / Minor Politikwissenschaft / alle Semester
- Sozialpädagogik/Wirtschaftspädagogik / Unterrichtsfach Politik / alle Semester
- Leuphana Bachelor / Major Studium Individuale / alle Semester
- Leuphana Bachelor / Minor Studium Individuale / alle Semester
Persons
Content
In this seminar, we discuss the role of tax systems in addressing inequality.
Many scholars consider taxation to be the most fundamental activity of the state. Tax revenue is vital not only for public goods provision but also as a defining element of democratic representation. Different types of tax instruments can create inequality and increase or diminish the distributive conflict.
We also delve into the basic concepts of inequality. This includes different ways to measure it, such as the Gini index, and the differences between income and wealth. We discuss why most studies focus on income inequality and how other kinds of inequality can be addressed, including inequality of gender, class, ethnicity, race, religion, sexuality, and age.
What is inequality and how to measure it? Are democracies better to fight inequality than authoritarian governments? What explains the evolution of the modern tax state, and why some tax systems are more progressive than others? How tax systems reinforce or undermine inequality?
This seminar introduces the literature on the politics of taxation and inequality drawing examples from different countries and areas. The seminar also aims to provide students with the basic tools to analyse public policies and how they affect inequality.
No prior knowledge, quantitative or otherwise, is expected from students.
The course aims to familiarize students with the basic concepts of taxation and inequality and how these two concepts appear and interact in public policies.
Evaluation
Further information on teaching evaluation: https://www.leuphana.de/en/teaching/quality-management/evaluation/course-evaluation.html