Why do we pay twice as much tax on earned income than on unearned income?

‘One for you, 19 for me.’

Why do we pay twice as much tax on earned income than on unearned income?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

Why do we pay twice as much tax on earned income than on unearned income? What would happen if the tax rates were equalised? Martin h

Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published next Sunday.