Local shops vs e-commerce: what should be done?
The small shops in your neighbourhood are closing in the face of e-commerce giants.
- Tax the digital giants and support local shops
- Cut costs and red tape for the self-employed
- It's a normal evolution: consumers choose
What's at stake: The debate pits keeping neighbourhoods alive against consumer freedom, against a backdrop of tax rules seen as unequal.
The left's argument
Web giants pay little tax. Protecting local shops keeps neighbourhoods alive.
The centre's argument
Lighten the load on small businesses so they can compete on equal terms with the web.
The right's argument
Customers choose freely: penalising e-commerce would make households pay more.
And you, where do you stand?
Answer 30 situations like this one and find out where you stand, topic by topic.