Citizens Prefer Lower Taxes Than Parliaments (But Not Always)

Are taxes higher or lower if citizens instead of parliaments legislate policies? A new study shows: It all depends on the tax category. Property tax, which everyone has to pay, is more likely to decrease. Business taxes, by contrast, remain almost unchanged. The results are based on a rule in the German Basic Law that allows direct democracy at the municipal level in Germany. 30 of about 11,000 municipalities in Germany do not elect municipal councils, but have a citizen assembly of all eligible voters as local legislature.