"ratable" noun form

Question

What is the best translation for "ratable" in this context: The municipality will attract new "ratables" to improve the economy.

Answer 1

I think that you are looking for the British English meaning. Am. English has a variant spelling of rateable.

ratable

Chiefly British Liable to assessment; taxable.

However, the penchant for concocting new words from ones related to other parts of speech seems American. Ratable is an adjective. I doubt that the word "ratables" as a noun actually exists. It would be things that are ratable.

In the more general sense stocks, bonds, insurance, etc. are all ratable according to some standard or another in that they can be assigned to a "rating" system. However, in your context I think they mean things that can be taxed, a fee levied, etc. to increase the municipality's income.

My best guess: ratables=taxable sources

You are absolutely correct. Its an adjective, not a noun. However, I must translate as is. I agree this word is being used as "taxable source". Would you say "valuable sujeto a impuesto" or "valorable sujeto a impuesto" or "tasable" works? Thank you. - pazamor, Apr 1, 2011