Masturbationsabgabe

Masturbationsabgabe is a German neologism that combines the word masturbation with Abgabe (levy or tax). In discussions and satire, it denotes a hypothetical fee or tax placed on the private act of masturbation. The term is not part of official policy and has no legal status; rather, it appears in opinion pieces, blogs, and online debates as a thought experiment or rhetorical device.

Use of the term typically aims to critique how governments might use taxation to regulate private behavior, or more broadly to question the legitimacy of state intervention in moral matters. It is often employed to examine arguments that link moral judgments to revenue or policy tools, rather than to propose a concrete policy.

Debates around the concept reflect wider tensions between libertarian arguments for individual privacy and liberal or conservative concerns about public health, social costs, and norms. Supporters might view it as a provocative example that exposes inconsistencies in morality-based policymaking; critics label it unrealistic or inappropriate as policy.

In practice, there is no jurisdiction where a masturbationsabgabe exists. The term remains informal and mostly appears in satire, opinion writing, and online discussion to illustrate points about taxation, morality, and state power.

See also: taxation; public morality; sex education; public health costs.