Links Nov 19

Stop plundering LDCs: EquityBD The New Nation
Reporting from a press conference in Bangladesh, organized by EquityBD, on the 2013 Financial Secrecy Index. See also Illicit fund outflows cost BD $24.7b since 1976 The Financial Express, and ‘Developed and developing countries must have a political commitment to stop illicit financial flow’ The Bangladesh Today

The BEPS Monitoring Group
Independent monitoring of the OECD's Action Plan for reforming international corporate tax.

Maximizing Tax Revenue in Developing Countries: Does Unitary Taxation Offer Solutions? Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

Private Banking Is Alive and Well in Switzerland The Wall Street Journal
"Not only is official banking secrecy alive and well but the original, centuries-old family banks are embracing their special status with more relish than ever." Note, Switzerland ranks at first position in the 2013 Financial Secrecy Index. See also: Barclays Says Swiss Bank Is Vital for Wealth Management Unit Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Credit Suisse private bank co-heads confident of growth Reuters

Cayman Islands Government seeks sole finance voice Cayman News Service
Note statistics on importance of the financial services industry within the Cayman economy. Note too that Cayman ranks fourth in the 2013 Financial Secrecy Index.

ECOFIN Discusses Savings Tax Directive Tax-News

Lebanon news: Banks still enjoying growth despite the regional crisis Financial Secrecy Media Monitor

Qatar Hosts Seminar On Taxation Of Islamic Finance Tax-News

Pennies from heaven The Economist
"Giving money directly to poor people works surprisingly well. But it cannot deal with the deeper causes of poverty."

Beyond Bitcoin: Other Technological Advancements In Money Laundering Financial Transparency Coalition Blog
See also: What Nobody Seems to Understand About Bitcoin naked capitalism