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The Financial Flows of Transnational Crime and Tax Fraud in OECD Countries

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  • Friedrich Schneider

Abstract

This article has two goals. First, it presents a preliminary literature review of the empirical findings of the worldwide proceeds of transnational organized crime (TOC) and for some Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries as well as a breakdown of the different types of crime proceeds. Also the illegal cross-border flows of global dirty money (including tax fraud figures) are shown, which are by far the biggest share (66 percent) of all illegal transactions. Second, some remarks are made about the infiltration of the TOC into the “official†economic system, and the functioning of the Hawala (or informal) banking is described. There are four main conclusions. First, the revenues of transnational crime are extremely difficult to estimate. Second, fighting transnational crime is very difficult, as there are no efficient and powerful international organizations that can effectively do this job. Third, tax fraud and/or other illegal cross-border capital flows should be the prime target for governments to reduce them. Fourth, this article should be seen as a first start/attempt in order to shed some light on the gray area of the magnitude of proceeds of tax fraud and of transnational crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Friedrich Schneider, 2013. "The Financial Flows of Transnational Crime and Tax Fraud in OECD Countries," Public Finance Review, , vol. 41(5), pages 677-707, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:41:y:2013:i:5:p:677-707
    DOI: 10.1177/1091142113482569
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Page & Sonia Plaza, 2006. "Migration Remittances and Development: A Review of Global Evidence," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 15(2), pages 245-336, December.
    2. Schneider, Friedrich, 2005. "Shadow economies around the world: what do we really know?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 598-642, September.
    3. Friedrich Schneider & Ursula Windischbauer, 2008. "Money laundering: some facts," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 387-404, December.
    4. Brigitte Unger, 2007. "The Scale and Impacts of Money Laundering," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12690.
    5. Előd Takáts, 2011. "A Theory of "Crying Wolf" : The Economics of Money Laundering Enforcement," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 27(1), pages 32-78.
    6. Walker John & Unger Brigitte, 2009. "Measuring Global Money Laundering: "The Walker Gravity Model"," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 5(2), pages 821-853, December.
    7. Zdanowicz John S., 2009. "Trade-Based Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 5(2), pages 855-878, December.
    8. Friedrich Schneider, 2005. "Shadow Economies of 145 Countries all over the World: What Do We Really Know?," CREMA Working Paper Series 2005-13, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    9. Friedrich Schneider, 2011. "The Financial Flows of the Transnational Crime: Some Preliminary Empirical Results," Economics of Security Working Paper Series 53, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    10. Friedrich Schneider, 2009. "Die Finanzströme von organisierter Kriminalität und Terrorismus: was wissen wir (nicht)?," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 78(4), pages 73-87.
    11. Friedrich Schneider & Raul Caruso, 2011. "The (Hidden) Financial Flows of Terrorist and Transnational Crime Organizations: A Literature Review and Some Preliminary Empirical Results," Economics of Security Working Paper Series 52, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    12. Tyler Moore & Richard Clayton & Ross Anderson, 2009. "The Economics of Online Crime," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 23(3), pages 3-20, Summer.
    13. Schneider, Friedrich, 2010. "The (Hidden) Financial Flows of Terrorist and Organized Crime Organizations: A Literature Review and Some Preliminary Empirical Results," IZA Discussion Papers 4860, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Bagella Michele & Busato Francesco & Argentiero Amedeo, 2009. "Money Laundering in a Microfounded Dynamic Model: Simulations for the U.S. and the EU-15 Economies," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 5(2), pages 879-902, December.
    15. Dominik H. Enste & Friedrich Schneider, 2000. "Shadow Economies: Size, Causes, and Consequences," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(1), pages 77-114, March.
    16. Michael Pickhardt & Aloys Prinz, 2012. "The Nature of Tax Evasion and the Shadow Economy," Chapters, in: Michael Pickhardt & Aloys Prinz (ed.), Tax Evasion and the Shadow Economy, chapter 1, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    17. Mr. Mohammed El Qorchi & Mr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo & Mr. John F. Wilson, 2003. "Informal Funds Transfer Systems: An Analysis of the Informal Hawala System," IMF Occasional Papers 2003/004, International Monetary Fund.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Louis Combes & Alexandru Minea & Pegdéwendé Nestor Sawadogo, 2019. "Assessing the effects of combating illicit financial flows on domestic tax revenue mobilization in developing countries," CERDI Working papers halshs-02019073, HAL.
    2. Schneider, Friedrich, 2017. "Restricting or Abolishing Cash: An Effective Instrument for Fighting the Shadow Economy, Crime and Terrorism?," International Cash Conference 2017 – War on Cash: Is there a Future for Cash? 162914, Deutsche Bundesbank.

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