The Intelligence from The Economist The Robin Hood state: taxes are getting more progressive
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Feb 18, 2026 
Callum Williams, senior economics writer who studies taxes and inequality, explains why welfare states have become more progressive. Carla Subirana, news editor covering Colombia, explores why many Colombians work as mercenaries abroad. Lane Greene, language columnist, argues Spanish in the US may be peaking. Short, punchy conversations on redistribution, Colombian fighters overseas, and shifting Spanish usage.
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Loopholes, Not Rates, Drove Past Low Tax Payments
- Historical high marginal tax rates often meant little because the rich avoided taxes through loopholes and expense tricks.
- Today it's harder for the wealthy to dodge tax, so rich people actually pay more than in mid-20th century practice.
Clamp Down On Tax Avoidance
- Tightening loopholes has been crucial to raising effective tax progressivity.
- Policymakers should clamp down on avoidance while considering headline rate changes to ensure fairness.
Super-Rich Still Have Avoidance Options
- Extremely wealthy people still exploit strategies like taking income as profits or borrowing against assets to reduce taxes.
- Evidence on how successful the super-rich are at avoiding taxes is mixed and hard to measure precisely.