[ixtis7]

I agree that it's silly to say that you don't benefit from government spending at all. On the other hand there is often a real sense of not getting what you put in. I imagine especially so on a forum like this where many are professionals of certain industries with relatively high pay.

For example: public spending per person in the UK is < £10,000 per year, which is much less than I pay in taxes. And I would estimate that I'm well below average in terms of spending received: I don't have children, don't have any large medical expenses, etc.

Of course, my cost to society will rise as I get older, but on average I would estimate that I'm paying at least twice (and probably many times more than) what I'm taking. And yet the current trend is for half of society to say that I'm not paying my 'fair share'. I'm not sure what definition of fairness they're using, but it's not mine.

[lexs]

You might not have children but you do benefit from other people having children, just because you don't "take" as much as you're paying doesn't mean you don't indirectly benefit from the effects it has on society.

[ixtis7]

Sure, I agree, but it's hard to imagine the multiplier for the 'externalities' is 2x or greater. Singapore is not some horrific hellscape where I couldn't live as I do here. Nor is Hong Kong (present situation there not being due to lack of tax revenue). They're educated (perhaps even better than in the UK), healthcare would be accessible to me, infrastructure is good. Heck, Singapore even has a massive public housing umbrella that goes beyond anything in the UK. So where is all the money here going?

[pirocks]

There is a belief among many that the current situation in Hong Kong is caused by the housing situation in Hong Kong. Part of why taxes are so low in Hong Kong is that the government profits from the housing situation(by owning most of the land and/or having arrangements with those who own all the land).

Additionally your two examples are both high density countries, and may not generalize to a country like the UK. Also worth noting that these countries give up a fair bit in civil liberties.

[lexs]

Singapore has rougly 5.5m inhabitants and 780km^2 compared to the UK 67.5m and 242000km^2, slightly different situation, interstingly both your example are ultra high density, basically city states. Not everyone can be financal hubs for other countries...