Can we have fair taxes?

Almost everyone will say no, because everyone hates taxes, but it is the way society has to collect money with which to defray social expenses.

The downside is that almost everyone has the perception that taxes are unfair.

And I say almost all of them, because some are trying to generate an Artificial Intelligence system that seeks social justice in taxes. One of them is the Salesforce company that has generated a program called AI Economist to generate a tax system that reduces people’s inequality.

The idea is similar to what Google did with its Deep Mind program to play Go. Through machine learning, the AI ​​system in a very short time was able to beat the best players in the world.

They have done the same with AI Economist, using algorithms that learn on their own, looking for ways to improve productivity, reduce inequality and ultimately create a more just and balanced society.

But of course, it is one thing to say it and try it, and another thing to succeed. But it is clear that he who does not try never achieves anything.

Today tax systems are based on the way of thinking of economists, and based on past experiences, which on the other hand are not negligible.

What Salesforce people do with their “system” is to start from almost zero and start with other premises, so that the system learns by itself based on the results obtained, and modifies itself accordingly, to meet the objectives of a fairer society.

According to them, they have carried out some tests within limited systems, and their results are 16% better than the current ones.

I think it is an interesting proposal and should be considered by the authorities. There is no point in making sudden changes to the current tax systems, but we should try to improve what we have.

We all want a fairer society, and taxes (if they are well established) help this.

But I am convinced that whatever the “machine” says, most people will still be unhappy with their taxes.

It is something that has no solution.