Final answer:
It is false that in a regressive tax rate system, the marginal tax rate will often be greater than the average tax rate. Regressive tax systems result in lower income earners paying a higher average rate relative to their income. Progressive systems, on the other hand, have higher marginal rates for higher income levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a regressive tax rate system, it is actually false that the marginal tax rate will often be greater than the average tax rate. A regressive tax is characterized by a lower tax rate as income increases. The purpose of a regressive tax is to tax lower income earners at a higher relative rate than higher income earners, whereas in a progressive tax system—like the one used in the United States—higher income levels are taxed at higher marginal rates.
Therefore, in a regressive tax system, as income decreases, the tax rate does not decrease as rapidly, leading to a situation where those with lower income end up with a higher average tax rate relative to their income. This means that, unlike a progressive tax system, the marginal tax rate is not increasing as income increases. Instead, as income rises, the taxpayers pay a smaller percentage of their income in taxes, making the marginal rate lower than the average tax rate for higher earners.