The world community is witnessing blatant injustice. While some people are suffering significant losses because of the coronavirus pandemic, others are becoming fabulously wealthy. There have always been people who are able to take advantage even of a disastrous situation. The same is happening amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Forbes, an authoritative source of information, has published a list of 50 entrepreneurs who earned billions in the previous year when the whole world was staying home. Among the leaders are healthcare companies, producers of personal protective equipment, and online retailers. Most of the newly-minted billionaires are from China, where the first coronavirus outbreak was recorded. They managed to increase their fortunes thanks to a surge in the stocks of companies engaged in the vaccine development and production of medical equipment. Notably, the coronavirus is still spreading around the world. That is why businessmen will have a chance to earn even more, especially those who are involved in the vaccine supply and rollout.
Such a situation attracted the attention of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the IMF, “high earners and companies that prospered in the coronavirus crisis should pay additional tax to show solidarity with those who were hit hardest by the pandemic”. Experts at the organization said that it was a temporary tax that would boost social spending and help in the formation of budgets. The IMF is sure that the solidarity tax will allow the flourishing business to take part in the economic recovery and boost citizens’ perception “that everybody contributes to the effort necessary for recovery from Covid-19”. The IMF said that such taxes were introduced in Germany, Australia, and Japan in different periods of time.
