In contrast, the share of the less progressive, and possibly regressive, social security contributions (SSC) has increased by more than two percentage points, from 8.1 percent of GDP in 1985 to 10.6 percent in 2005.16 Overall, these revenue trends do not point clearly at either more or less redistribution through direct taxes in most countries. A closer inspection of annual revenue statistics since the mid-1980s (not reported here) indicates that PIT revenues are significantly more volatile over the period than SSC. Several countries recorded level changes that persist over longer periods of time (Denmark, France, Portugal, Spain) or notable upwards (Canada and, Iceland, Italy up to early 1990s) or downwards trends (Canada since early 1990s, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand up to early 2000s, Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden). But in several others, total PIT payments have fluctuated without a clear trend in either direction (Australia, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States). With the exception of the Netherlands17, changes in total SSC paid by households are smoother and more persistent than for PIT.