The tax rate in the UK depends on how much you earn, so I have based this on the average person, earning less than £32,000 a year
Tax in Latvia:
An individual's business and salary income is taxable, as at 2011, at the rate of 25%.
The tax rate for An individual's capital gain is 15%.
The standard rate of VAT in Latvia is 22%
Tax in the UK:
An individual's business and salary income is taxable, as at 2011, at the rate of 20%.
The tax rate for An individual's capital gain is 23%. (between 18 and 28%)
The standard rate of VAT in UK is 20%
Our tax is a little lower, but not so much that you would notice. But the amount people 'make on the side' in the UK is far far less than the two thirds you describe as in Latvia, it probably averages out to £100 next to your 600 - 1000... 'Cash in hand' work simply isn't as available here as easily, so back handed income isn't an option for many.
Just a small observation, if you paid tax on two thirds of your income, the tax rate would not need to be so high? Maybe its your own corruption that's hitting your pocked more than your government?
The figures side by side look fairly even to me.