One of the big concerns of the day for the global economy is oligopolistic behaviour and the closing down of genuine competition by huge players in the market powerful enough to influence the rules so that they can extract greater and greater profits. Well, the 'biggies' are at it again, and a new … [Read more...]
Blog
Reforming the multi-billion dollar accounting and finance education industry
We keep on saying that the Big Four accountancy firms tend to get an easy ride when it comes to the coverage of scandals like the Panama Papers and now the Paradise Papers. All too often the spotlight is shone on the celebrities and the big names that have been exposed. That's all fair enough BUT … [Read more...]
Links Nov 20
Paradise Papers: Tax havens, legal letters and other sticky questions answered by ICIJ Drug traffickers taught the rich how to hide money in tax havens The Guardian Paradise Papers Exposes Powerful Politicians, Prompts Calls For Inquiries Across Africa ICIJ Africa: Doing Without Advice From … [Read more...]
Bad week for the big four
Last week was a bad week for the big four accountancy firms. These companies, which have for years marketed themselves as technocratic advisors to both governments and business, are seeing more exposure for the role they have played in driving the offshore economy, tax abuse, and the emptying of … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers: The Mauritian Connection
What do Angola’s sovereign wealth fund, the cast of British TV show Mrs Brown’s Boys, and Yale University’s investment in India have in common? The Paradise Papers reveal that they are all connected with offshore secrecy jurisdiction Mauritius, with the assistance of offshore law firm … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers and the Big Four: in the words of a former insider
We're sharing in full an article by tax ethicist George Rozvany who racked up 32 years of experience at senior levels of Big 4 accounting firms and major corporations. We interviewed him previously on the Taxcast along with the award winning economics and finance journalist Michael West speaking on … [Read more...]
Our November 2017 Spanish language Podcast: Justicia ImPositiva, nuestro podcast de noviembre 2017
Welcome to this month’s latest podcast and radio programme in Spanish with Marcelo Justo and Marta Nuñez, downloaded and broadcast on radio networks across Latin America and Spain. ¡Bienvenidos y bienvenidas a nuestro podcast y programa radiofónica! (abajo en castellano). In the November 2017 … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers: The onshore heart of the offshore industry
We're sharing this blog in its entirety from Icelandic journalist Sigrun Davidsdottir's excellent Icelog. The Paradise Papers emphasises, yet again, that the damaging effect of offshore is much more pervasive that robbing countries of tax. Offshore creates a two-tier business environment, hiding … [Read more...]
Big Four accounting firms are key drivers of tax haven use, new research says
As scandals emerge from the Paradise Papers, the Big Four accountancy firms seem to have managed to stay largely out of the spotlight once again. But research released today shows that scrutiny of their practices is justified in the public interest. The new study is authored by Dr Chris Jones and … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers: UN human rights experts react: States must act against abusive tax conduct
The United Nations Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights has released a strong statement on the ethical responsibility of corporations in the wake of the Paradise Papers revelations. The current Independent Expert, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky has said ““Corporate tax abuse … [Read more...]
#ParadisePapers: residency for sale to the rich and famous
Among the scandals exposed by the Paradise Papers is that of residency for sale, something I covered just last month (along with passports for sale) as a special feature in our monthly podcast and radio show, the Taxcast, which you can listen to below. The name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll showed … [Read more...]
Enough evidence on trusts – where are the State’s actions?
Our two last papers on trusts (here and here) described trusts’ involvement in grand corruption and other cases that would anger any rational person. The Paradise Papers, and recent case law, shed outrageous new light on trusts’ role in worsening inequality, shielding assets from legitimate … [Read more...]
Day 2 #paradisepapers revelations – Global corporations need global taxation
In response to the latest Paradise Papers revelations, which have seen large multinational companies exposed milking profits offshore, the Tax Justice Network is calling on countries around the world to start to tax the global profits of multinational corporations. … [Read more...]
Are the activities uncovered in the Paradise Papers ‘legal’ – a plea to journalists
As the revelations from the Paradise Papers hit the news stands many journalists are asserting as fact that nothing illegal has taken place. The BBC in the UK are the most aggressive proponents of this line, but the issue has been raised in other countries too. On several interviews I have done … [Read more...]
Her Majesty the Queen of Offshore
It should come as no surprise that Her Majesty the Queen uses offshore tax havens as part of her wealth management strategy. The Queen is, after all, the head of state of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, and Bermuda where the law firm Applebys was originally … [Read more...]
