Purpose
This paper aims to assess the role of secrecy jurisdictions in providing supply-side stimulants for illicit financial flows from developing countries and how the tax havens structures shape the role of actors. Specifically focussing on decades of trade liberalisation and markets, and of increasingly rapid movement of people, capital and information across regions and around the globe, the paper draws on the political economy theory of globalisation to illuminate the connections between capital flight, money laundering and global offshore financial centres (OFCs).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses publicly available evidence to shed light on the role played by tax havens in facilitating money laundering, capital flight and corruption. The issues are illustrated with the aid of case studies.
Findings
The evidence shows that, in pursuit of organisational and personal interest, the tax havens create enabling structures that support illicit activities of the political and economic elites from developing countries. The paper further argues that the supply-side of corruption severely limits the possibilities of preventing corruption in developing countries.
Research limitations/implications
The paper uses publicly available evidence to illuminate the role played by OFCs in facilitating elite corruption and money laundering practices.
Practical implications
It is impossible to quantify the volume of money laundered, but it has been estimated that money laundering may account for as much as 5% of the world economy.
Social implications
The paper, therefore, suggests that unless this supply-side of corruption is tackled there is little prospect for an end to aid dependency and the creation of economically stable and democratic states in developing countries.
Originality/value
The paper examines predatory practices of the international financial industry in tax havens and OFCs in facilitating money laundering, corruption and capital flight and the challenges posed for the economic development of developing countries.
This study investigates the impact of technology innovation on tax administration in Nigeria. Primary Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire administered on 219 staffers of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to elicit their responses. Descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Regression Model were used for the data analysis. The R value depicts that the use of information technology accounted for (76.3%) improvement in tax administration in Nigeria. The results strongly support the TPB in predicting the intention of users to adopt electronic tax-filing systems. The results also demonstrate the significant effect that computer self-efficacy has on behavioural intention through perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived risk of use. Based on the findings of this study, implications for electronic tax filing are discussed. Finally, conclusion and recommendations were made based on the findings of the study.
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