CAPITAL FLIGHT, SAFE HAVENS AND SECRECY JURISDICTIONS
Date
2014-09
Authors
Barry, Frank
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AERC
Abstract
The terms “safe haven” and “secrecy jurisdiction” are arguably more appropriate than “tax haven” or even “offshore financial center” in discussing capital flight. Florida, for example, is thought to be the main destination for capital flight from Latin America, though it is rarely—if ever—listed under either of the last two headings. Most capital flight is thought to reflect the transfer—typically to jurisdictions characterized by strong financial secrecy regulations—of the receipts of plunder, money laundering, and tax evasion. These same jurisdictions are occasionally used by governments to dodge reparations, evade the impact of sanctions, and/or covertly fund political interference in rival states. The paper considers how capital flight safe havens operate. It also reviews the arguments over financial secrecy laws and practices, and considers recent multilateral and unilateral attempts—by the OECD, the EU, the US and others—to counter secrecy abuses.
Description
WP - 5
Keywords
secrecy jurisdictions , safe havens; , offshore financial cente , transfer pricing