Taxation & Intergenerational Fairness: Exploring the role & reforms to inheritance taxes in Ireland

Item: Taxation & Intergenerational Fairness: Exploring the role & reforms to inheritance taxes in Ireland
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

by Dr. Micheál Collins, UCD and Dr. Tom McDonnell, NERI

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Economics & Finance KFFFinance and the finance industry KFFDPublic finance and taxation

🎙 Dr. Micheál Collins, UCD and Dr. Tom McDonnell, NERI 👥 133 📅 March 6, 2026 ⏱ 43 min 👁 26 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

inheritance taxwealth distributiontax reformIrelandintergenerational fairness

Summary

This seminar, presented by Dr. Micheál Collins (UCD) and Dr. Tom McDonnell (NERI), explores the role and potential reforms of inheritance taxes in Ireland, focusing on intergenerational fairness. The presentation begins by introducing new data on household wealth, particularly from the European Household Finance and Consumption Survey, which reveals high levels of wealth concentration across Europe and in Ireland. The speakers then discuss the economic and social rationales for inheritance taxes, including horizontal and vertical equity, efficiency, and the need to temper wealth concentration. They also address common arguments against such taxes, such as double taxation and potential distortions. The presentation compares inheritance tax systems in other European countries with Ireland’s Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT), highlighting its relatively low revenue contribution and generous thresholds. Finally, they propose a range of reforms, including lowering thresholds, reducing reliefs, and broadening the tax base, to enhance fairness and generate revenue. The seminar concludes with a Q&A session where the speakers address questions from attendees. The presentation is based on a peer-reviewed article published in Social Policy and Society.

175 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation provides a comprehensive and well-argued case for reforming inheritance taxes in Ireland. The speakers ground their arguments in economic theory (horizontal and vertical equity, efficiency) and empirical data on wealth distribution. They effectively balance the pros and cons, acknowledging potential drawbacks while making a strong case for reform. The argumentation is logical and persuasive, supported by comparative data and concrete policy proposals. The value of the information is high for policymakers and researchers interested in wealth inequality and tax policy.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The presentation is rigorous, drawing on data from the European Central Bank and the Irish Central Statistics Office, and is based on a peer-reviewed article. The speakers are credible experts in the field. The title accurately reflects the content. The sources are clearly cited, and the presentation is well-structured. The Q&A session adds to the credibility by addressing potential concerns.

157 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on inheritance taxes in Ireland and their role in intergenerational fairness.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The presentation is based on a peer-reviewed article published in Social Policy and Society, and the speakers are established researchers. The data sources are reputable (ECB, CSO). The arguments are well-structured and balanced, though the presentation is an opinion/expert review rather than original research.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Taxation and Intergenerational Fairness: Exploring the Role of Inheritance Taxes with a Focus on Ireland — The paper on which the presentation is based, published in Social Policy and Society.

Concurring Sources

World Inequality Report 2022 — Provides global data on wealth inequality, supporting the presentation's claims.

Contribution & Novelties

The presentation offers a timely and data-driven analysis of inheritance taxes in Ireland, linking wealth inequality to intergenerational fairness. It provides a clear overview of the current system and proposes concrete reforms. The use of recent comparative data adds value.

Pour aller plus loin :

Wealth inequality in Europe — Overview of wealth distribution in Europe.
Capital in the Twenty-First Century — Thomas Piketty’s influential work on wealth inequality.
Inheritance tax — General overview of inheritance taxes worldwide.

78 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity, quality, and reliability, with a slightly lower technical level, indicating a well-balanced and accessible presentation for an informed audience.

Reliability 8/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.