The Taxcast

Naomi Fowler talks to investor and author Jonathan Tepper who’s co-written a book called ‘The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the death of capitalism’ and explore monopolies, the dangers to consumers and citizens, and the suppression of true innovation: are we in the last stage of capitalism? Plus the Tax Justice Network's John Christensen discusses Congress woman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez's proposal for a 70% top marginal tax rate to be levied on incomes once they get to $10 million and above. And...we talk about Brexit, and how the European Union should handle the City of London's finance sector

In this month's podcast: time's running out to tackle climate crisis facing us all. We look at environmental taxes and making them fair. Plus we discuss the gilets jaunes in France, a movement that's been widely reported as anti-green taxes, but is in fact born from wider desperation for their 'let them eat cake' President Macron to reverse a series of policies that have worsened inequality in the country. We give Monsieur le President a lesson in how not to implement an environmental tax...

In this month's Taxcast: we look at how governments can better protect, encourage and even incentivise whistleblowers. Also: what do the latest Brexit developments tell us about dark money, the 'influence industry' and plutocracy? And, we hear from the UN's Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Philip Alston on his findings from his UK visit.

In the October 2018 Taxcast: we speak to Nicholas Shaxson about his new book "The Finance Curse: How Global Finance Is Making Us All Poorer" released alongside new research from the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute on the true costs of the City of London’s oversized finance sector to the British economy - £4.5 trillion in lost economic output over a 20 year period – that’s equivalent to £67,500 for every person in the UK, not far off $90,000. This research has serious implications for oversized financial centres everywhere. Also, we discuss the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the hypocrisy of the 'west' and corruption of democracy by dark money and national and international security threats not only from Russia, but also from China and, the most overlooked - the United States.

In the September 2018 Taxcast: we talk about 'Moneyland' and the transnational elite that have broken free of democratic control with journalist Oliver Bullough. Also, 10 years after the financial crash - how do we tackle the next one? Plus, we discuss the fifth aide of US President Trump to be convicted of, or admit criminal charges, and what it says about the spread of plutocracy.

In the August 2018 Taxcast: We ask why many Bermudians are leaving their beautiful island & why inequality levels have become so extreme despite it's huge offshore services centre. Plus we discuss the legal fight back against financial transparency gains, and we discuss tackling fake news from fake think tanks.

In the July 2918 Taxcast: a firewall to protect EU citizens from the Big Four accountancy firms and the tax avoidance lobby. Plus, we discuss UN Rapporteur on Poverty and Human Rights Professor Philip Alston’s announced visit to the UK to look at austerity and the human rights consequences: his report on the US was hard-hitting and controversial. What will he make of the UK? Also, we look at Transparify’s 2018 think tank funding transparency rankings and talk about how opacity is the name of the game for many of the ‘free market’ lobby groups pushing for Brexit, deregulation, privatisation and tax havenry, such as the Institute for Economic Affairs.

We’ve had leak after leak, whistleblower after whistleblower. But no matter what the scandal is, when it comes to financial secrecy and tax dodging, the so-called big four accountancy firms are key players. We interview investigative journalist Richard Brooks of the Private Eye on his new book: Bean Counters: the triumph of the accountants and how they broke capitalism. Plus: Will President Trump be prosecuted for foundation fraud? And can a leopard change its spots? How come the secrecy jurisdiction of Delaware came out in support of a financial transparency bill?

In this month's Taxcast: We discuss why we can’t afford the rich and challenge ideas about wealth, entrepreneurialism and investment. Also: ten years ago the Tax Justice Network was told it’d never happen, but this month British MPs voted to stop secret ownership of companies in British Overseas Territories. The Crown Dependencies got away for now. But the pressure is on them as a UK Foreign Affairs Committee report says corrupt assets of Kremlin-connected individuals pouring in to London is a threat to the UK’s national security. And while some of the money hidden in the Overseas Territories may flow to the United States, the EU may actually add it to their blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions…

In this month's Taxcast: Tax justice, women and UN human rights conventions: how we may be beginning to hold governments to account. Also: we discuss scandal-hit Facebook's checks on whether overseas influencers are funding political ads in the United States and why they won't work. And is it time for a new model? How Mark Zuckerberg could become a hero. Plus: Norway does the responsible thing and decides not to invest its sovereign wealth fund in private equity. And India’s decade-long battle to collect back taxes from Vodafone runs into potential conflicts of interest at the highest political levels.