A decrease in the tax to GDP ratio often indicates that the government is collecting less revenue relative to the size of the economy. This can be linked to a slowing economic growth rate, as slower growth can lead to lower incomes and profits, which in turn results in less revenue generated from taxes. Conversely, while a lower tax to GDP ratio can indicate less equitable distribution, this is not a direct conclusion and could arise from various factors; hence, option 1 is the more accurate interpretation in the context of economic growth dynamics.