Band 9: Task 1: The table below gives the information about the amount of tax collected (as % of GDP) in five countries for 4 years between 1975 and 2005. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The table provides information about the percentage of GDP collected as tax in five countries in 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005.

Overall, Sweden had the highest tax revenue as a percentage of GDP throughout the period, while the USA showed the most stable figures. All countries experienced an overall increase, although Turkey recorded a slight fall between 1975 and 1985.

In Sweden, the proportion of GDP collected as tax increased gradually from 46% in 1975 to 51% in 1995, before rising sharply to 70.1% in 2005. By comparison, the figure for the USA changed only slightly, from 25.1% to 27.4% over the same period. Its figures remained below 28% throughout the period.

Korea experienced a significant rise from 15.1% in 1975 to 27% in 1985. However, it fell slightly to 26% in 1995 before recovering to 27.3% in 2005. Japan followed a steady upward trend, with the figure increasing from 15% to 32.1%. Finally, Turkey was the only country to experience an initial decline, falling from 16.4% to 15% in 1985. It then rose considerably, reaching 24% in 1995 and 27.4% in 2005.