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Finance and tax policy

Article as analysis

Switzerland protects its pharmaceutical industry

While countries in the global South are billions of vaccines short in the battle against the pandemic, pharmaceutical groups shift their exorbitant profits to low-tax jurisdictions.

Article as analysis

Global tax competition is no sustainable strategy

Fighting illicit financial flows and mobilising resources, especially in developing countries, are crucial to the global funding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Federal Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy draft ignores this.

Article as analysis

Small steps towards greater tax transparency

It has been officially confirmed since July that Switzerland is one of the big winners in the global game of profit shifting by multinational corporations. Legal steps towards greater tax transparency are still not in the offing, however.

Nationaler Kontaktpunkt OECD

Article as analysis

Out of the frying pan into the fire?

Since early 2019, more than 100 countries have been engaged in negotiations under the OECD Inclusive Framework on further reform of the worldwide taxing system for enterprises. The focus is on the digitalisation of corporate business models.

Betrug, Mosambik, Kreditbetrug

Article as analysis

Every bad loan is one too many

Many poor countries are indebted to major Swiss banks. Instead of debt service, they could now be using their funds to manage the health and social policy aspects of the pandemic. Banks should now provide generous loan write-offs.

Article as analysis

Back to «normal»?

The corona pandemic is not just an epoch-making health and humanitarian challenge, but in many developing countries will also translate into a protracted economic, political and social crisis. International solidarity is needed now more than ever.

Political article

The Green New Deal according to Ann Pettifor

An effective climate turnaround requires more than just sustainable investment policies. British economist Ann Pettifor wants to see radical reform of the financial and fiscal system. Her book opens with the words: «We can afford what we can do».

Political article

After the elections...

Much has already been written about the 2019 parliamentary election results. One searched the media in vain for an assessment of their implications for Switzerland‘s development policy approaches or its foreign policy.

Article as analysis

The dazzle of the private sector

The privatization of development funding could completely overshadow vital tax and financial policy issues. For Switzerland, not changing course would mean the end of the implementation of Agenda 2030 in terms of development policy.