Regressiv

Regressiv is an adjective used in several languages, notably Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and German, to describe something that is regressive or tending to move backward. The term can refer to a direction, a return to an earlier state, or a characteristic that increases a burden or backward tendency in a system. In many contexts it is paired with its opposite, progressiv, meaning forward- or forward-moving.

In economics and public policy, regressiv describes mechanisms that impose a greater relative burden on individuals with lower incomes. A regressive tax or policy takes a larger percentage of income from the poor than from the rich, often through flat-rate charges or consumption-based levies. Examples frequently cited include sales taxes and flat-rate fees, which do not scale with the payer’s ability to pay. This contrasts with progressive systems, where higher earners pay a larger share of their income.

In linguistics and phonetics, regressive can describe backward-acting phonological processes, where a sound later in a word influences an earlier sound during articulation or perception. This is often discussed in relation to assimilation or coarticulation that propagates leftward across a phonological boundary.

The term also appears in broader discussions of policy, regulation, and social programs to characterize measures that counteract or undo prior progress, or that have a backward-acting impact on distribution, equity, or outcomes. As with many technical terms, the exact nuance depends on the discipline and the language in which it is used.