U.N. chief calls for wealth tax as pandemic worsens global inequalities
April 13 (UPI) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the creation of a wealth tax on those who have profited during the COVID-19 pandemic as he warned global inequalities continue to grow as infections increase.
During his remarks Monday to the 2021 Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development, Guterres said the wealth of the world's richest grew by $5 trillion in the past year and a tax would be a solution to reduce extreme inequalities, which have been exasperated amid the pandemic.
He warned world leaders that they are failing to combat the pandemic and that "no element of our multilateral response has gone as it should" as some 120 million have fallen sick to the virus, including around 3 million who have lost their lives, and the world has fallen into the worst recession in 90 years.
Guterres pointed to the vaccine effort as an example, stating as 10 countries account for around 75% of global vaccinations many still are unable to get shots in arms of their healthcare workers and vulnerable citizens.
Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/04/13/switzerland-United-Nations-Secretary-General-Antonio-Guterres-coronavirus-pandemic-inequalities/1241618302085/
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