Would the world be a better place if offshore finance didn’t exist? Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell doubtless thinks so, believing … Continue reading “The beneficial impact of offshore finance”

The Church’s attitude towards globalisation has become somewhat ambivalent in recent years – if not a little hostile. This seems … Continue reading “Outraged about Offshore Financial Centres? You shouldn’t be.”

I really must re-tune the alarm clock so that I am not woken in the morning by the BBC trying … Continue reading “Everybody is outraged about offshore investment funds – because nobody understands what they are or what they do”

The last 50 years have witnessed an unprecedented growth in international trade. Global inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) have … Continue reading “It is fashionable to condemn international financial centres – but before you join in, take a look at what they actually do”

Oxfam has organised a letter, signed by over 300 economists, calling for a crack-down on tax avoidance. But what of … Continue reading “Oxfam on tax avoidance: do as I say, not as I do?”

In an Oxfam-coordinated letter, 355 economists claim that tax havens “serve no useful economic purpose” and do “not add to … Continue reading “Three cheers for tax havens”

Yesterday, 355 economists signed a letter co-ordinated by Oxfam arguing that tax havens have “no useful purpose”. There are some … Continue reading “In defence of tax havens”

If we look at the performance of high-tax Western countries – which includes, amongst others, every EU country, plus the … Continue reading “Crackdown on tax competition will hinder trade and development”

When it comes to the debate on tax avoidance, the coalition seems to struggle in two respects. The first problem … Continue reading “Tax haven hypocrisy”