Global Policy Forum

Throughout the past months, the growing gap between the richest and the poorest has been emphasized over and over again by protestors, journalists, academics and even policy makers. But what can be done against it? According to Cristobal Young, introducing a Millionaires Tax would be a step in the right direction. Although tax policies are not the cause of rising inequality, they can undoubtedly contribute to it. In the US for instance, since 1980, the tax rate facing the very highest income earners has dropped from 70% to 35%. In a context of economic and political unrest, introducing a millionaire’s tax bill should be on every government’s agenda. (Boston Review)

Governments collect proceeds by penalizing bribe-payers. To collect these proceeds, governments must first identify who is paying whom and how much  in order to  accurately calculate the profit a businessman or company derived from bribing a government official. Quantifying proceeds of active bribery can, however, be extremely difficult. This Organization for Economic Co-operation study lays out a road-map for calculating the economic effects of a bribe, making it easier for governments to recover the proceeds of corruption. (The Wall Street Journal)

Mobilizing domestic resources in developing countries is indispensable to finance development and end aid dependency. However, tax dodging by multinational companies (MNCs) strongly limits the capacity of developing country’s governments to collect taxes. Eurodad’s most recent report “Exposing the Lost Billions” elucidates how the absence of adequate transparency regulations and the cross border nature of MNCs’ operations reduce countries ability to mobilize domestic resources.  (Eurodad)

Public procurement is often portrayed as a technical, accounting issue instead of as a source of revenue for local industries and government. It can also be a tool for development, says lecturer Michael Jennings. In numerous cases, donors have pressured African countries into making public tenders open to international competition. Donors, argues Jennings, have either self-interested reasons, such as the protection of their own national “strategic” industries, or humanitarian ones, insisting, for instance, that cheaper foreign mosquito nets are preferable over more expensive locally produced mosquito nets because they can save more lives. In both cases, however, the key roles that monetary value and markets play in donor approaches to procurement obscure the further roles it can play. According to Jennings, humanitarian ends should certainly prevail, but approaches to procurement must not obscure the goal of supporting African solutions for African problems. (The Guardian)

Since the real estate bubble in 2008, a vast amount of residential and non-residential properties in the United States remain vacant. Property owners keep them empty, expecting falling prices to rise soon. Having housing sit idle, however, does no one any good. Empty houses return no income to property owners, deprive others from the possibility of living or working in them and keep rents high. A tax on empty property could reverse these problems, without producing any of the externalities local and state governments often fear when introducing taxes. All the side effects from this tax are positive: by providing an additional incentive to actually use vacant property, this tax could both raise a substantial sum of money and bring down the rent of houses and commercial property. (Aljazeera)

Global tax regulation has gained momentum in the international arena. A less popular, yet equally important side to taxation, is the issue of domestic tax collection. Domestic taxes represent a vital source of revenue for governments, play a fundamental role in redistributing wealth within an economy and in the case of aid recipients can help end dependency on high-income donors. The end of the “tax consensus” dictated by international financial institutions and the provision of funds and technical assistance to improve tax administration systems in the South ought to be a priority for international policy makers. (Share the World’s Resources)

Global Financial Integrity’s report analyzes illicit financial flows from LDCs, which divert resources needed for social and economic progress. The report found that government corruption and transfer pricing by multinational companies accounts for much of illicit LDC outflows. The authors also discuss the difficulties of tracking illicit funds, and they recommend policy changes such as tax self-sufficiency and improved information-sharing to decrease illicit transactions. (UNDP)

African countries can escape from debt by fighting corporate tax evasion. Governments should see taxation as one of the most sustainable source of national funding. Transnational companies seek tax breaks by offers of investments and employment. But the employment numbers rarely compensate for the tax losses. African countries must mobilize their own tax resources to find their way out of aid dependence. (IPS)

LATIN AMERICA: Taxing the Poor (June 2, 2010)

The UN Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has released a report showing that the region, despite its positive economic growth, collects less tax than any other region in the world. Moreover the ECLAC report indicates that national tax structures in the region are unfair, weighing heavily on the poor. The Guatemalan representative to the UN has remarked that a more progressive tax is needed to curb inequality and such a discussion should not be distracted by philosophical discussions about the relationship between the state and the market. (IPS)

Yasuni National Park in Ecuador is one of the world's most biodiverse areas. Exploitation and extraction of oil reserves may threaten this unique ecosystem in the Amazon jungle. So the Ecuadorian government has made an unprecedented agreement known as the Yasuni ITT Initiative. The oil will stay in the ground in exchange for an international fund of $3 billion. Film stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Edward Norton have given public support the deal. (Environment News Service)

This Christian Aid report examines the scale, nature and problems of illicit capital flows. Capital flight reduce the funds available for health and other public services in several countries. Further, tax havens and tax evasions erode the rule of law and encourage corruption. The report estimates that every year international investors move US$500 billion from developing countries. In comparison, global aid flows amount to roughly US$100 billion per year.

Leading up to the September 2007 round of negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreements with the EU, sixteen Common Market Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries oppose the EU's attempt to lower trade barriers which will open African markets to EU products. Such a decision would have devastating effects on African industrial capacity and tariff revenues. COMESA also draws attention to the absurdity of the EU using a relatively developed country such as South Africa as a standard for the African continent's capacity to handle lost revenue. (Inter Press Service)

An increasing number of Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazil have paid off debts to the IMF and the World Bank in an effort to "break free" from the harsh conditionalities for debt relief imposed by the two institutions. Citing "doubts about the World Bank's credibility [and] legitimacy", Venezuela and Argentina have launched the "Banco del Sur", or Bank of the South, a more democratic and development-focused alternative where "voting power will be based on financial need" rather than economic or political power. (TomPaine)

To decrease their dependency on rich countries and achieve long-term development, poor countries must raise revenue domestically. In this paper, author Jens Martens looks at a range of different obstacles that prevent governments of poor countries from raising sufficient public revenue and spending it on development. For example, governments of rich countries pressure poor countries to liberalize trade, thus reducing customs revenues. Also, ineffective tax systems exempt transnational corporations, landowners and rich individuals from paying taxes to poor countries. (Global Policy Forum, DGB Bildungswerk, terre des hommes)

The Publish What You Pay coalition examines progress made on the "Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative" (EITI). By developing a process to publicly disclose the revenues governments receive from oil, gas and mining, EITI works to help countries avoid the "resource curse". Outlining steps necessary to curb corruption and ensure countries spend natural resource revenues to reduce poverty and generate economic growth, this report evaluates government performance in the 21 countries that endorsed the EITI in 2002. While Nigeria and Azerbaijan have made significant progress, "in about half of the countries, governments have failed to match their rhetoric with tangible measures".

Focusing on youth, the 2007 annual World Bank publication reports that the world population of people aged 12-24 has reached a record 1.3 billion, living mainly in poor countries. According to the report, this "demographic dividend" creates a short "window of opportunity" for poor country governments to stimulate social and economic development, before this huge generation reaches middle-age. The report strongly emphasizes the importance of governments investing in better education, healthcare and job training thereby "expanding opportunities", "improving capabilities", and "offering second chances" to the young.

US oil giant Chevron may have uncovered large oil resources in Cambodia. According to United Nations Development Programme estimates, revenues from the oil could double the country's GDP in the coming years. As a potential source of finance for education and infrastructure projects, the oil money could represent a huge opportunity for the impoverished country. But, development experts warn, it could also add Cambodia to the list of poor countries ruined by the "resource curse". Oil money that makes government less dependent on taxes could erode the leader's sense of obligation to the people, and allow Cambodia to turn into a "full-scale kleptocracy". (Christian Science Monitor)

With 42 percent still living on less than US$2 a day in China and almost half of all children in India undernourished, economic growth has failed to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of impoverished people in these countries. However, as this International Herald Tribune article suggests, economic growth enables governments to tackle the "roots of poverty" by providing health care and education. The author argues that the public must hold policy makers responsible to provide these services as well as address factors that impede the poor's use of them.

International reserves held by poor countries have tripled since 2002, amounting to US$2.9 trillion at the end of 2005. Aware of the disturbing economic and social effects of past financial crisis, many countries opted for macroeconomic stability and political independence by accumulating vast sums of low-return US Treasury bonds. This New York Times article argues that many poor countries pay a "high price" for their caution since the money could foster development in areas such as health care or education.

This article looks at how restricted access to basic financial services is limiting poor people's chances to escape poverty. In many poor countries, although financial services such as checking accounts or credit-lines may be available, small firms and poor households cannot use them due to high costs. Often, access barriers such as account opening costs amount up to 30% or 50% of the GDP per capita. The World Bank also points out that governments need more data and research to foster poor people's access to financial services.

This Oxfam and WaterAid report argues that public provision of health and education services play a most important role in ending global poverty. Poor country governments must commit to bigger and better investments in health and education. Rich countries, for their part, must support these initiatives and increase both quantity and quality of aid, fully cancel debt for all poor countries that need it and stop demanding budget cuts in and privatization of public services through the international financial institutions.

In this contribution to the 2006 Social Watch Report, Jens Martens of Global Policy Forum calls for a "paradigm shift in the international discourse on development financing". Martens draws up concrete policy recommendations to enable poor countries to mobilize "enough domestic resources to guarantee universal access to reasonable quality essential public goods and services". Presently, a tax "race to the bottom" in attracting foreign investment, ineffective tax administrations, and pressure towards tariff reductions deprive poor countries of billions of dollars in potential income every year. In addition to tackling these income challenges, policies must ensure poor countries spend less on debt service, harmful subsidies and military budgets.

Chad's government began a new oil-drilling plan, intended to channel resources directly from exports to social welfare and development projects. Because past endeavors have been stifled by corrupt leaders and expropriation, the funds from this project will be held by the World Bank and monitored by a panel of government and NGO officials. (Christian Science Monitor)

Multilateral agencies and government institutions have historically argued that small-scale and artisinal mining (ASM), is unsustainable, dangerous, and exploitative of women and children. However, as ASM continues to grow and employ thousands of impoverished people, thereby becoming more integrated into local development, organizations are shifting their focus from ending the industry to reforming it. (International Development Research Center)

Interpersonal violent acts have high economic, social and psychological costs which often hold perpetrators and victims in a cycle of poverty. In some states, associated financial costs, which are being diverted from other important social welfare programs, exceed 3.3% of GDP. In this extensive report, the WHO recommends more political and financial investment in prevention.

"Inappropriate arms sales are responsible for entrenching and exacerbating poverty." Poor governments spend millions of dollars each year on weaponry; in many states, this sums to more than education and healthcare combined. This report suggests an international arms trade treaty to cap defense spending and protect sustainable development. (Inter Press Service News Agency)

Poor Brazilian children often spend their day trying to earn enough money to eat, rather than attending school. A government program offers families a stipend for their child's school attendance. (Washington Post)

A South African business professor contends that when local entrepreneurs rush to compete in the markets of more industrialized, slower-growth economies, they forego sustainable market development in their own emerging regions. (Business Day)

Breaking from a history of Anglo-American-imposed low-profit commodity exporting, the "G3", Brazil, India, and South Africa, plan to pursue their own national development policies. (Asian Times)

Farmers are locked in a vicious cycle of mismanaged government policy that "fixes" access to coffee markets. Governments encourage the flooding of markets with low-quality beans, by subsidizing export-oriented production. (International Policy Network)

World Bank reports demonstrate that relatively poor migrant workers in rich countries provide more financial flows to developing countries than the combined total of government aid, private bank lending, and IMF/World Bank assistance. In many smaller developing countries, remittances are playing a significant developmental role. (Observer)

Economic assistance and aid to Ethiopia have done nothing to alleviate poverty, and accepting more aid only increases the country’s debt burden. Instead, this author argues for an approach that relies on domestic resources and promotes Ethiopia’s private sector as an engine of growth. (Addis Tribune)

The currency devaluation that followed Argentina’s abandonment of a fixed exchange rate system is already fueling domestic production. Joseph Stiglitz argues that the next step to Argentina’s recovery should not be IMF loans but credit to develop domestic resources. (Project Syndicate)

In an area of the Philippines previously characterized by militancy and instability, US Agency for International Development (USAID) grants help finance a program of economic revival, benefiting the local population and helping to maintain peace in the region. (Christian Science Monitor)

At Nigeria's 'National Dialogue on Financing for Development,' delegates discussed whether the country should focus on Overseas Development Aid, or mobilizing finance within the economy. Either way, Nigeria "must present conditions that are predictable, coherent and stable" to attract investment. (This Day, Lagos)

Republican Jim Kolbe, chair of the House appropriations subcommittee on foreign aid, urges the US to increase its aid budget while conceding that aid productivity deserves more attention. Remaining at the bottom of the donor list, the Bush administration believes productivity gains alone suffice. (Washington Post)

In the past decade a number of African-based investment companies have emerged to finance and advise small and medium-sized businesses. These firms combine experience and first-world contacts with "inside knowledge of Third World businesses," and they are proving to be vital for Africa's economic development. (New York Times)

Money from migrant workers in the U.S. is helping to create jobs back in Mexico. Will these micro-businesses stimulate the local economy enough to slow massive migration to the U.S.? (Los Angeles Times)

The expansion of the underground economy in Mexico and the rest of Latin America has perpetuated poverty and deprived the government of much-needed tax revenues. Now, a pilot program hopes to make it easier for unregistered street vendors to become legitimate. (Los Angeles Times)

Privatization of public utilities was supposed to ease Thailand's public debt and give a much-needed boost to its market. But, as the continuing woes of the country's energy sector show, the terms of deregulation are often decided by political interests. (Far Eastern Economic Review)

In its "love affair" with business, the British Government is in jeopardy of persuading itself of nonsense. Whitehall believes everyone in the private sector is smarter than anyone in the government sector, therefore the very presence in Whitehall of the business breed makes it all worthwhile. (Independent)

The Nayakrishi, or "New Agriculture" movement in Bangladesh promotes crop diversity, pesticide-free growing zones, and local control. Is it a viable alternative to the "Green Revolution" (Mother Jones)

In the aftermath of foot and mouth crisis and after 50 years of subsidies, agriculture is the most hopelessly inefficient and neglected sector of the whole economy of England. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of England, wants to cut down agricultural subsidies and give more cash to other rural business. But a new analysis underlines the mis-match between farming subsidy and support for the wider rural economy. (Guardian)

A UN Development Program report calls for governments to develop national anti-poverty programs that address a wide range of related development issues, not just how to increase incomes. The report also calls for the world's wealthy countries to provide debt relief to the developing world. (Associated Press)