Here's a short funny story about international tax and racism. (Ok, it's not that funny. But it's also about academic impact, and very much worth celebrating.)
On 7 April 2021, President Biden announces he's going to stop companies being "able to hide their income in places like the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, in #taxhavens."
Somehow, it's *always* the [black majority] palm-fringed islands that get called out...
whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…
Somehow, it's *always* the [black majority] palm-fringed islands that get called out...
whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…
On 13 April, @brooklyntaxprof wrote an open letter: it "may be true, in a sense. But it encapsulated the racism you promised to purge from our discourse. Tax experts you surround yourself with know Switzerland belongs at the top of any list of #taxhavens" thenation.com/article/econom…
This wasn't just a random swipe. @brooklyntaxprof has built a serious body of work on the racism embedded in international tax policymaking, not least this great piece with the new UN independent expert @AttiyaWaris papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…
By the way - you can see Profs Dean and Waris in discussion on these issues and why they matter, at our @TaxJusticeNet annual conference, here:
Back to our story, and lo! 28 April, in (much more high profile) remarks to a joint session of Congress, Biden corrects course:
"A lot of companies also evade taxes through tax havens in *Switzerland* and Bermuda and the Cayman Islands."
Go Prof Dean!
whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…
"A lot of companies also evade taxes through tax havens in *Switzerland* and Bermuda and the Cayman Islands."
Go Prof Dean!
whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…
That's not the end, of course. International tax is still very much characterised by embedded racism. There's another story about the OECD reforms to tell, for example. But that's for another day.
Today, let's celebrate some real impact. Kudos @brooklyntaxprof!
Today, let's celebrate some real impact. Kudos @brooklyntaxprof!
A postscript. I'm telling this today because this piece brought it all back - and what an impressive list of officials, experts and organisations they've found to make themselves look foolish by claiming Switzerland is not a #taxhaven. thelocal.com/20211027/analy…
In case of doubt: Switzerland ranks #3 on the Financial Secrecy Index; 5th on the Corporate Tax Haven Index; and imposes roughly $13 billion in tax losses on the rest of the world each year. (But barely a palm tree in sight, how very dare Biden?) taxjustice.net/country-profil…
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