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The Role of Offshore Financial Centres in Globalization

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  • Prem Sikka

Abstract

Capitalism is inherently crisis‐ridden, but shows little sign of exhausting itself. It continues to develop new ways of reinvigorating itself and generating economic returns for capital. Globalization is considered to be the most advanced phase of capitalism. The Offshore Financial Centres (OFCs; also known as tax havens) are an integral part of globalization. They facilitate growing mobility of finance by providing no/low tax, no/low regulation, secrecy and anonymity to enable footloose capital to roam the world. Their policies play a key role in tax avoidance/evasion, money laundering, flight of capital, degradation of regulation, instability and economic underdevelopment, and have serious consequences for people everywhere. Professional intermediaries, such as accountants and lawyers, play a key role in the development and expansion of OFCs. Despite the veneer of liberal democracy, some OFCs are captured by the finance industry and advance the interests of financial capital. Many OFCs are nurtured and protected by leading Western hegemons with developed capital and financial markets. This paper encourages scholars to study the operations, functions, policies and politics of OFCs by drawing attention to their significance and impact on societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Prem Sikka, 2003. "The Role of Offshore Financial Centres in Globalization," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 365-399, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:accfor:v:27:y:2003:i:4:p:365-399
    DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-6303.2003.t01-2-00111.x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sikka, Prem, 2010. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 153-168.
    2. Otusanya, Olatunde Julius, 2011. "The role of multinational companies in tax evasion and tax avoidance: The case of Nigeria," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 316-332.
    3. Bakre, Owolabi M. & Lauwo, Sarah, 2016. "Privatisation and accountability in a “crony capitalist” Nigerian state," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 45-58.
    4. Adams, Dawda & Adams, Kweku & Ullah, Subhan & Ullah, Farid, 2019. "Globalisation, governance, accountability and the natural resource ‘curse’: Implications for socio-economic growth of oil-rich developing countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 128-140.
    5. Adams, Dawda & Adams, Kweku & Attah-Boakye, Rexford & Ullah, Subhan & Rodgers, Waymond & Kimani, Danson, 2022. "Social and environmental practices and corporate financial performance of multinational corporations in emerging markets: Evidence from 20 oil-rich African countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Michael, Bryane & Wojick, Dariusz & Arner, Douglas W. & Tong, Wilson & Lin, Chen & Zhao, Simon, 2015. "What Determines M&A Legal and Financial Advisors’ Competitiveness in an International Financial Centre: Using China’s Going Out Policy as a Natural Experiment," EconStor Preprints 110603, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    7. Alistair M. Brown, 2006. "The Financial Milieu of the IASB and AASB," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 16(38), pages 85-95, March.
    8. Andrew van Hulten & Michael Webber, 2010. "Do developing countries need 'good' institutions and policies and deep financial markets to benefit from capital account liberalization?," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 10(2), pages 283-319, March.
    9. Sikka, Prem & Willmott, Hugh, 2010. "The dark side of transfer pricing: Its role in tax avoidance and wealth retentiveness," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 342-356.
    10. Baptiste Souillard, 2022. "Profit Shifting, Employee Pay, and Inequalities: Evidence from US-Listed Companies," CESifo Working Paper Series 9720, CESifo.

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