Edited Volume: Missing Dollars

Illicit financial flows (IFFs) deprive resource-rich developing countries of tax revenues, reducing their capacity to invest in health, education, infrastructure, climate adaptation and other development priorities. IFFs are also a growing source of tension between the global South and the North. A fair global tax system could help developing countries mobilise the financial resources needed for their growth and development. Based on a six-year multidisciplinary research project involving academic institutions in commodity-exporting and trading countries, the 24 authors fo the 17th volume of International Development Policy offer a mix of theoretical and empirical contributions, as well as macro- and micro-level analysis.

Exploring consensus for policy reforms

There are various policy measures to reduce IFFs, ranging from immediate measures to long-term structural changes. However, determining which policies are effective is controversial and hampers reform efforts. Fritz Brugger and Joschka J. Proksik contributed a chapter to the volume, which consists of a Q-methodology study to identify the preferences of IFF policy experts for specific measures to address trade-related illicit financial flows. The aim is to identify the policy space available to advance reforms. The study revealed disagreement over whether the focus should be on quick fixes or more significant changes, whether those who facilitate and aid the creation of IFFs should be held legally accountable, and how much power countries should have to combat IFFs within their own legislation. The most widely agreed upon policy measures were targeted transparency measures that could be used directly by host country tax administrations.

external page To the online version of "Missing Dollars. Illicit Financial Flows from Commodity Trade"

The print version will be published in autumn 2024.