Explain to me in simple terms- What is Income Redistribution?

Answer 1

I mostly agree with Bruce's answer, only to say that redistribution isn't necessarily "get from the rich to give to the poor", it can also be "get from households without children to give give to households with children", or "get from the young and healthy to help the old and disabled" or even "get from rich urban areas to give to poor rural areas". It also reflects the choices of society as a whole, in a way.

But Bruce got the rationale for doing so absolutely correct.

Answer 2

Rob from the rich and give to the poor - Robin Hood. It is also the system most countries in the world follow.

Progressive tax rates are an example. Those who earn more should pay not only more tax, but a higher rate.

Welfare and old-age pensions provide direct support of the needy.

The logic is any one or all of the following:
1) That they consume a proportionally greater benefit from society.
2) That they earn their money by exploiting the poor.
3) That they have greater ability to pay,
4) Great disparity in wealth creates stratified societies that are anti-democratic and less stable, or
5) That it is the Christian thing to do.

The United States does a reverse-distribution where the rich pay the lowest rate of tax. The highest tax rate used to be 80%, but now has been cut to 35% and 15% on gains (which are mostly earned by the rich) Social Security tax is not paid on wages exceeding $97,000.

Answer 3

Any policy that transfer resources between income groups. This would apply to most services that are paid for by taxes (higher income groups pay more taxes than people with less income) and distributed on a per person basis as well as services that are only available to the poor through means testing. Income redistributing services such as police, fire, schools, parks, and the much of the road system are generally accepted as necessary, but programs that are means tested are often controversial

Answer 4

Taking from the aka "rich" and giving the income to the "poor".

Answer 5

getting money that you didn't earn.