Tax Havens and OECDs Politics

Tax havens are a key contributing factor to why poverty around the world persists today. Tax havens have a central position in the international economy, as over 50 % of global trade is conducted through them. Since the 1960s tax havens have been, and continue to be, an essential mechanism in almost every important economic event and in every financial crisis and scandal. Tax havens are about more than just tax, they are about escape ¿ escape from creditors, criminal laws, financial regulation, tax, ¿ and above all, tax havens are about escape from democratic accountability and scrutiny. The purpose of this book is twofold. On the one hand, it is aimed at creating higher awareness among the general public around the concept of tax havens and the economic threat they impose on fundamental rights provided by the welfare state model sustained by tax income. On the other hand, it is intended to inform about the OECDs political campaign against tax havens. This part ends with a conclusion evaluating the campaings results.