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Why Japanese citizens evaluate the new indirect tax as unfair: Fairness criteria and their relative importance

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Abstract

The study examined citizens' fairness evaluation of the consumption tax recently introduced in Japan, and explored the underlying criteria and their relative importance in judging the fairness of the tax and the procedural fairness by which the tax was introduced. Five dimensions were obtained in factor analysis. Multiple regression analysis revealed that three dimensions contributed to total fairness of the tax: Procedural Fairness, Outcome Evaluation, and Affective Responses. Further analyses revealed that “ramming the bill,” “sufficient discussion,’ and “reflection of citizens' opinions” were crucial for Japanese citizens judgment of procedural fairness. The results supported Leventhal's theory: ethicality, accuracy, and correctability were important.

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Takenishi, M., Takenishi, A. Why Japanese citizens evaluate the new indirect tax as unfair: Fairness criteria and their relative importance. Soc Just Res 4, 251–263 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01048400

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