in economic, financial, and social welfare policy, the sp rejects policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance. the sp also opposes raising the retirement age. in addition, the sp is a proponent of increasing welfare spending in some areas such as for a publicly financed maternity leave, universal health care and a flexible retirement age. in tax policy the sp opposes the notion of lowering taxes for high-income citizens. by campaigning for the harmonisation of all tax rates in switzerland, the sp seeks more redistribution. the sp is skeptical toward the privatization of state enterprises. nonetheless, the sp also promotes more competition in the areas of agriculture and parallel imports.