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Comment by gbog | Hacker News Reader

I don't know. For example many rich people flee France right now, and in some respect it is also because of private property not being safe.

Kids: maybe I'm foolish, I want my kids to grow in China. The air is bad but they will respect their teacher and elders, they will be able to safely walk in any streets, they experience a fast changing and exciting environment, with friendly and welcoming neighbors, and maybe most importantly they will be well equipped mentally and culturally to understand the world all the kids of their generation will have to live in.

All of that is obviously weighting much more than air considerations.

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No they're "fleeing" because of a 70% upper marginal tax bracket on person income. And I question how many have actually left, as opposed to saying they totally will.

I seriously doubt France will really miss them, since it's unlikely they paid much of the previous bracket in the first place, and they won't very well stop doing business there.

"No they're "fleeing" because of a 70% upper marginal tax bracket on person income"

Not quite true. "Beyond 500 000 euros in yearly revenue, the maximum tax rate on the revenue is 49 %. The 75 % tax bracket was censored by the Conseil constitutionnel, and is now paid by the companies." [1]

"And I question how many have actually left".

Apparently, it's no so clear.

"The idea that France is experiencing a massive tax exile is widespread in some political circles and sometimes covered in the press, but there are absolutely no tangible proof that such an exile is happening." [1]

[1] - http://decodeurs.blog.lemonde.fr/2014/01/06/the-fall-of-news...

I don't get this. If the 75% tax is paid by companies rather than individuals, won't the individuals who own these companies still effectively be taxed at this rate? A $1 million tax is a $1 million tax regardlss of whether it is applied when the money hits the company' bottom line or when it hits the owners' bank accounts.

My understanding is this particular tax on high salaries is paid by the employer. Suppose you pay an employee more than 1 million euro yearly, you'll have to pay about 75% tax for everything over 1 million euros. Apparently, this only for 2013 and 2014 and it concerns about 1000 employees, including something like 100 soccer players.

Yes, they flee because they feel their wealth is not safe in France.

And they do, a lot of them.

I do not think France would miss them for the loss in tax income. But I think France should be more welcoming with successful people, and accept that in our world wealth is a marker of success.

"maybe I'm foolish, I want my kids to grow in China"

You make it sound like China is some kind of eldorado whereas your country (France?) is crime ridden with a government that is expropriating his citizens.

If I was to be reincarnated randomly somewhere in China or Europe, I would choose Europe with no hesitation.

"The air is bad but they will respect their teacher and elders, they will be able to safely walk in any streets"

Personally, I think air quality is more of a concern than petty theft.

I'm not taking about petty theft, I'm taking about educational environment. I think growing in a place where you don't feel safe is bad. Feeling secure and building self confidence is the most important for a balanced personality. And feeling safe doesn't mean living in a compound guarded night and day: this would be the worst educational environment.

I think Japan, Europe and China are great in this regard, but U.S. is too violent for me.

the main religion in china now is money,and children from little age trained for exam,the only thing your child will learn in a chinese school is competition,people are judge by their ability to achieve high point(grade/money), we don't have something called 'education' here,i don't think your children can find a good teacher grown up in such environment

I know that, my kids go to French school mind you

"they will be able to safely walk in any streets"

As adults, yes. Also maybe as children, if they don't look Chinese and never wander away from the rich neighbourhoods.

What do you mean? Are you referring to these kidnapping? Do you have stats?

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