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China adds a 10% tax on "super cars"

Graham Watson

4th December 2016

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The Chinese have imposed a tax on 'super cars' - a seemingly random tax on luxury goods. It's difficult to see why the tax has been imposed other than as a political move designed to be seen to be tackling high inequality in the country.

The official reason for the tax is "to guide rational consumption, and promote energy-saving emission reductions, the state Council has approved an additional consumption levy on ultra-luxury cars". Laughable, isn't it. One suspects that political elite will find ways of evading the tax.

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Graham Watson

Graham Watson has taught Economics for over twenty years. He contributes to Tutor2U, reads voraciously and is interested in all aspects of Teaching and Learning.

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