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Spud approves of these idiots

Global corporate tax avoidance is estimated to cost governments around the world
US$240 billion in foregone revenues each year. It is now an issue that reflects a
growing dissatisfaction with the distribution of power and wealth in society. The
ability of MNCs to avoid paying their ‘fair share’ of tax where it is owed,

Tax avoidance is, by definition, activity to make tax owed less than without the activity. Legally so. Thus the result of tax avoidance cannot be dodging tax which is owed.

10 thoughts on “Spud approves of these idiots”

  1. “Global corporate tax avoidance is estimated to cost governments around the world
    US$240 billion in foregone revenues each year. ”

    First order effect.

    Second order effect: That $240b is still with the companies. Enabling them to afford higher wages, more investment, higher dividends for shareholders. All of which will result in higher tax revenues.

    What’s the betting the second order effect’s greater than the first order.?

  2. It’s fun to sum some kind of activity all over the world and reach stupidly big numbers: the women of the world spent hundreds of billions of dollars on shoes last year. What a waste.

    But you need to scale the other things. The world’s gross product is $78 trillion (nominally. it’s well over $100 trillion in terms of PPP). So assuming this number is right, $240b of that (0.3%) are “misplaced”. Big deal. It’s 0.3%. If that was the only wastage I’d say that the world has a very efficient system.

    What’s more interesting is how much economic effect tax avoidance has. If I can do A or B where A is more beneficial to me, but I choose to do B because I pay less taxes with B, we can assume that the tax difference is greater than the utility difference. There may be second order effects, but I would guess that the reduced utility amounts to no more than $240b. Again, 0.3%. Nothing to get too worked up about.

  3. ‘The ability of MNCs to avoid paying their ‘fair share’ of tax where it is owed’

    It isn’t owed, dumbasses.

    ‘The ability of MNCs to avoid paying their ‘fair share’ of tax where it is owed, combined
    with austerity measures being endured by citizens, has led to a public backlash
    through campaigns waged by tax justice activists, international non-government
    organisations and the media.’

    So it’s not really a ‘public backlash.’ Activists, INGOs, and the media are not “the public.”

    “How many fools does it take to make up a public?” – Chamfort

    How can austerity be endured by citizens unless they are getting something from government? Government isn’t supposed to be giving things out! Using the word is an admission of corruption.

  4. “the result of tax avoidance cannot be dodging tax which is owed”

    So you are happy that babies are torn apart in the streets by packs of hyenas?*

    * As told to me by Dr Professor Her Majesty Richard Murphy

  5. “costs governments” is the key phrase – all money belongs to the government and any that is kept out of their grasping hands is a cost.

  6. “the result of tax avoidance cannot be dodging tax which is owed”

    So you are happy that babies are torn apart in the streets by packs of hyenas?*

    * As told to me by Dr Professor Her Majesty Richard Murphy

    And why, pray tell, didn’t you deck him on the spot? I woulda without a second thought. Lord knows I’ve gone over tables at cunts for less than that.

    Goddamn Euroweenies.

  7. Talking of the tuber, he believes the GE polls are distorted because loads of people are boasting of voting Tory but won’t actually turn out to vote.

    Expert level: none.

  8. Bloke in North Dorset

    In every election since about ’92 we’ve had a shy Tory vote with pollsters consistently underestimating their vote. The GE not only have the shy ones come out of the closet we’ve now got people running round claiming they’ll vote Tory when they don’t intend to.

    What on earth goes on in that scrambled brain cell of his?

  9. What on earth goes on in that scrambled brain cell of his?

    Not scrambled, but mashed!

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