Tax Justice: A Pathway to Better Health

National governments, independently through their policy choices and collectively through global institutions, influence nearly all determinants of health: from providing access to public health care, adequate housing, social protection, and universal education, to ensuring decent work and employment, a fair income, food security, and a sustainably healthy environment. To do so, governments must raise revenue through taxation and use it effectively and accountably.Taxes have been described as society’s superpower. Yet deep historic and structural global injustices mean governments are often unable or unwilling to effectively generate and allocate taxes in ways that dismantle inequalities. Tax injustice infringes on the lives, rights, and well-being of all people and further marginalizes discriminated groups. This is the status quo. There is an alternate path possible, the status futurus. Activist communities and engaged policymakers are already shaping a world where tax abuse is being stemmed, tax systems within and across countries are becoming fairer, and taxes are effectively contributing to healthier societies. Resistance to this movement is strong and from many sides; what role are health activists playing in challenging this resistance? This chapter examines the current status quo and what can be done to change the situation in tax to improve public health; it is written specifically for the health workers and health activists.