The Danish government has recently declared the termination of its hefty 25% sales tax on books, aiming to combat what officials are calling a "reading crisis" within the nation. The tax has been recognized as one of the highest in the world, and Culture Minister Jacob Engel-Schmidt expressed optimism that abolishing it will lead to an increase in book sales. Annual expenses incurred from this tax removal are projected to reach approximately 330 million kroner (around $50 million or £38 million).
According to research from the OECD, about 25% of Danish 15-year-olds struggle to understand basic texts. "The reading crisis has unfortunately been spreading in recent years," Engel-Schmidt remarked, expressing pride in the government's initiative to foster cultural consumption. He emphasized that substantial funds should be directed towards nurturing the cultural landscape of Denmark.
Comparatively, neighboring countries with similarly high standard VAT rates—Finland, Sweden, and Norway—impose significantly lower rates on books at 14%, 6%, and even 0% respectively. On the other hand, the UK has declared books VAT-free, emphasizing different approaches to promoting reading.
Recent surveys indicate troubling declines in reading and comprehension levels among Danish teenagers, a sentiment echoed by Mads Rosendahl Thomsen, vice-chair of the government's literature working group. He pointed out that while younger children tend to improve in literacy, by the age of 15, the capability to comprehend texts becomes critical. “The statistics are pretty shocking,” Thomsen said while commenting on the OECD findings. He added that teens today face myriad distractions which detract from reading.
While scrapping the VAT on books is seen as a step in the right direction, Thomsen cautioned that it alone wouldn't resolve the entire issue. Nonetheless, it certainly represents a move towards making literature more accessible. Additionally, the working group is considering various strategies to promote Danish literature abroad, the digitization of the book market, and the potential effects on authors’ compensation.
According to research from the OECD, about 25% of Danish 15-year-olds struggle to understand basic texts. "The reading crisis has unfortunately been spreading in recent years," Engel-Schmidt remarked, expressing pride in the government's initiative to foster cultural consumption. He emphasized that substantial funds should be directed towards nurturing the cultural landscape of Denmark.
Comparatively, neighboring countries with similarly high standard VAT rates—Finland, Sweden, and Norway—impose significantly lower rates on books at 14%, 6%, and even 0% respectively. On the other hand, the UK has declared books VAT-free, emphasizing different approaches to promoting reading.
Recent surveys indicate troubling declines in reading and comprehension levels among Danish teenagers, a sentiment echoed by Mads Rosendahl Thomsen, vice-chair of the government's literature working group. He pointed out that while younger children tend to improve in literacy, by the age of 15, the capability to comprehend texts becomes critical. “The statistics are pretty shocking,” Thomsen said while commenting on the OECD findings. He added that teens today face myriad distractions which detract from reading.
While scrapping the VAT on books is seen as a step in the right direction, Thomsen cautioned that it alone wouldn't resolve the entire issue. Nonetheless, it certainly represents a move towards making literature more accessible. Additionally, the working group is considering various strategies to promote Danish literature abroad, the digitization of the book market, and the potential effects on authors’ compensation.
