50 Things That Made the Modern Economy cover image

50 Things That Made the Modern Economy

Tax Havens

Jun 17, 2017
The podcast delves into the world of tax havens, uncovering the astonishing amount of unreported wealth hidden in offshore banking systems. Economist Gabriel Zucman's calculations reveal a significant global wealth discrepancy, with at least eight percent of the world's wealth illegally undisclosed. The episode explores the evolution and controversies of tax havens, discussing legal tax strategies versus fraudulent practices, and sheds light on the impact of offshore wealth on global tax revenues, particularly in developing nations.
09:13

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Tax havens conceal at least 8% of the world's wealth through offshore accounts.
  • Tax avoidance by multinational corporations involves complex methods like the double Irish Dutch sandwich.

Deep dives

Controversy Surrounding Tax Havens and Their Impact

Tax havens are a hotbed for controversy due to legal tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion practices. Multinational corporations like Google utilize complex accounting strategies, such as the double Irish Dutch sandwich, to minimize their tax liabilities. While tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion, such as VAT fraud or undeclared income, remains illegal. The issue of banking secrecy and tax havens has historical roots, stemming from the dismantling of European empires and implicit subsidies.

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