7 Jul 2007

Tax and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Christians, Allison. "Tax and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the The Law and Society Association,

Here is the Abstract:

In the name of increasing trade and investment to developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, various international organizations have advocated a number of diverse tax reforms. Trade and investment-oriented organizations (such as the WTO and the OECD) focus on eliminating tariffs to reduce the drag on cross-border trade and decreasing income taxes to reduce the drag on cross-border investment. On the other hand, international lending organizations (such as the IMF and the World Bank) focus on introducing national sales or consumption taxes to support government’s fiscal requirements as the other forms of taxation decline. This research asks whether these diverse tax reform proposals, when implemented simultaneously, have the desired effect: do they increase trade and investment while adequately supporting government functions?

The research will focus on a group of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is the geographic area of focus not only because it is a region that is associated with extreme poverty-related conditions and persistently low levels of foreign trade and investment, but also because the United States (a leading member of all of the international organizations discussed above) has consistently proclaimed its commitment to increasing opportunities for economic growth in these countries through the elimination of trade and investment barriers. With economic growth the driving force of the various tax reforms, this research examines whether the United States and the international organizations have enabled or can enable the subject countries to experience gains in the global economy while simultaneously supporting their own fiscal infrastructures.

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1 Jul 2007

Harnessing the Costs of International Tax Arbitrage

Professor Adam H. Rosenzweig (from Washington University) has postes Harnessing the Costs of International Tax Arbitrage, 26 Va. Tax Rev. 555 (2007). Here is the abstract:


The issue of international tax arbitrage has proven a difficult and intractable one. Rather than try to minimize costs of the arbitrage or prevent “abuse” of the laws of a particular regime, the United States should also consider affirmatively bearing some of the costs of the international tax arbitrage transaction to further the policy of international vertical equity and shift the incentives in the worldwide regime that led to the rise of the arbitrage in the first place.

Harnessing the costs of international tax arbitrage transactions will not always be the appropriate response to each particular arbitrage transaction. Depending on the circumstances, the traditional responses may be sufficient, a fundamental change to the underlying United States domestic tax law may be appropriate or a worldwide consensus on harmonization in a particular area may arise. Harnessing the costs of the international tax arbitrage should be considered, however, when such responses prove inadequate. At a minimum, in adopting such an approach the United States would provide some level of subsidy for investment in developing countries at little to no cost to the current international tax regime. At best, however, harnessing the costs of international tax arbitrage could place of the issue of international tax arbitrage back on the international scene, restart stalled international tax discussions and potentially move towards a greater worldwide consensus, not only on the international tax arbitrage itself but on the larger issue of the role of international vertical equity in the worldwide tax regime. In a second-best world, United States unilateral action in harnessing the costs of international tax arbitrage may be the first step towards a first-best solution.



This Blog/Web Site ("Blog") does not to provide specific legal advice, it is for educational purposes only. This Blog is made available by the international adviser, lawyer or law firm for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice.

The Blog does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Any comment posted on the Blog can be read by any Blog visitor; do not post confidential or sensitive information. Any links from another site to the Blog are beyond the control of us.

By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog.

The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional adviser or lawyer in your country.

Our firm and do not convey their approval, support or any relationship to any site or organization. The use of this Blog does not implicitly or explicitly convey any warranties or representations as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.

This Blog has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses the information gathering and dissemination practices for this Blog.

This Blog takes your privacy very seriously. Our customers told us they want to see clear, easy-to-read information about our privacy commitments and policies. We have made our privacy policies easier to find and easier to read. And we're listening. We welcome your questions and feedback on our privacy policies, and invite you to contact us with your thoughts.

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• We will protect your privacy and keep your personal information safe. We use powerful encryption and other security safeguards to protect customer data, when available.
• We will not sell your personal information to anyone, for any purpose. Period.
• We will fully disclose our privacy policies in plain language, and make our policies easily accessible to you.
• We will notify you of any revisions to our privacy policy, in advance. No surprises.
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This Privacy Policy identifies and describes the way This Blog uses and protects the information we collect about visitors. All use of this Blog is subject to this Privacy Policy.

Use of Location Information
• When your wireless device is on, it sends periodic signals to the nearest cell site. We use that information to provide your wireless services;
• You can use your wireless device to obtain a wide array of services based on the approximate location of the device, referred to as Location Based Services, or LBS. The information you receive in connection with your use of LBS may include advertisements related to your request and your location;

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We collect different types of personal and other information based on your use of our products and services and our business relationship with you. Some examples include:
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We use the information we collect in a variety of ways, including to:
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• Deliver customized content that may be of interest to you;
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• For local directory and directory assistance purposes.

Aggregate or Anonymous Information:

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• Our knowledge, and offer of information that may be of interest to you;
• Universities, laboratories and other entities that conduct scientific research; and
• Media research companies for general information only.

More information:

http://www.jpa-iac.com/en/
http://www.braxton-co.com/en/
http://www.tax-international.com
http://www.braxton-group.com