EU unveils revised 'Robin Hood' tax
Published on Feb 14, 2013
Credit: http://www.euronews.com/
The European Commission on Thursday unveiled a new proposal for a tax on financial transactions that could be collected worldwide.
Only 11 EU nations want to take part, but they need to strike a deal together before the levy can become a reality.
Those countries are Germany; France; Austria; Belgium; Estonia; Greece; Italy; Portugal; Spain; Slovakia; and Slovenia.
Algirdas Semeta, EU Commissioner for Taxation said he was "quite optimistic that (those) member states will be able to reach an agreement relatively quickly."
The 11 countries that say they want to adopt the so-called FTT account for two-thirds of EU growth.
The European Commission says the tax on share, bond and derivative trades will raise up to 35 billion euros a year.
Yet its own study on the now-defunct pan-EU proposal found it would reduce economic growth.
Investors, meanwhile, argue that the costs will be passed on to savers.
James Watson, BusinessEurope chief economist, told euronews: "If you've got a pension fund and that pension is investing in companies as most fund pensions do, than in the long term you as a pensioner are going to be paying this tax".
ATTAC, a lobby group in favour of the so-called Robin Hood tax, said any revenues raised should be used for fighting poverty.
"Profits from this levy on financial transactions should be used to help development in the Third World," said Jean Flinker of the organisation's Brussels office.
"We must fight against austerity and find new ways to tax the banks, which continue to make massive profits even in a time of crisis."
Trades outside the FTT zone will not escape the levy.
If a party to the trade is based in one of the 11 nations, then the tax would apply which gives it a potentially global reach.
Non-FTT countries such as the UK are worried this could lead to discriminatory 'double taxation' and hamper the effectiveness of the EU's single market.
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Saturday, March 16, 2013
European Union Plans Tax on Financial Transactions
EU Leadership Plans Tax on Financial Transactions, Newsy Business, Oct. 1, 2011
Transcript:
BY: MIKKEL NOEL LANZKY
The European Commission is putting forward plans for a financial transactions tax in an effort to recoup some of the bailouts the EU has given out to fend off the financial crisis and to curb future speculative trading that contributed to the creation of the crisis.
Bloomberg gives us the lowdown.
“The proposal would apply a tax of 0.1 percent on trading of stocks and bonds, with a 0.01 percent rate for derivatives contracts [...] The proposed tax is aimed at banks, investment firms, insurance companies, pension funds, stockbrokers and hedge funds, among other types of financial firms.”
The tax, laid out by Commission President José Manuel Barroso in a speech to the European Parliament could bring in about €55 billion in revenue. According to the Financial Times, Barroso argues EU countries have guaranteed more than 4 trillion Euro to support the banking sector.
“It’s a question of fairness… it is time for the financial sector to make a contribution back to society.”
Left-leaning British newspaper Morning Star quotes former investment banker Sony Kapoor supporting the tax.
“Financial transaction taxes, appropriately designed, can not only raise substantial revenue but also enhance stability by discouraging destabilising trading that serves little economic purpose.”
The European Commission wants the tax to come into effect in 2014, but there are political hurdles. The UK is firmly against taxing financial activity, London’s banking center is the focal point of the global financial markets.
Transcript by Newsy.
Transcript:
BY: MIKKEL NOEL LANZKY
The European Commission is putting forward plans for a financial transactions tax in an effort to recoup some of the bailouts the EU has given out to fend off the financial crisis and to curb future speculative trading that contributed to the creation of the crisis.
Bloomberg gives us the lowdown.
“The proposal would apply a tax of 0.1 percent on trading of stocks and bonds, with a 0.01 percent rate for derivatives contracts [...] The proposed tax is aimed at banks, investment firms, insurance companies, pension funds, stockbrokers and hedge funds, among other types of financial firms.”
The tax, laid out by Commission President José Manuel Barroso in a speech to the European Parliament could bring in about €55 billion in revenue. According to the Financial Times, Barroso argues EU countries have guaranteed more than 4 trillion Euro to support the banking sector.
“It’s a question of fairness… it is time for the financial sector to make a contribution back to society.”
Left-leaning British newspaper Morning Star quotes former investment banker Sony Kapoor supporting the tax.
“Financial transaction taxes, appropriately designed, can not only raise substantial revenue but also enhance stability by discouraging destabilising trading that serves little economic purpose.”
The European Commission wants the tax to come into effect in 2014, but there are political hurdles. The UK is firmly against taxing financial activity, London’s banking center is the focal point of the global financial markets.
Transcript by Newsy.
Nurses Rally in Chicago to Heal America, Tax Wall Street
Nurses Rally in Chicago to Heal America, Tax Wall Street, National Nurses United, YouTube, Sept. 1, 2011
Nurses rallied in Chicago as part of a nationwide appeal to Heal America, Tax Wall Street. Every day, at their jobs, nurses are on the front lines of our sick economy. They see patients who can’t afford their medications, prenatal care, and other essential services. But nurses know there is a solution.
It’s time for politicians to stop coddling Wall Street and start caring for Main Street America. National Nurses United is proposing a small tax on Wall Street transactions that would both curb reckless speculation and provide up to 350 billion in funds to heal our ailing economy.
Nurses rallied in Chicago as part of a nationwide appeal to Heal America, Tax Wall Street. Every day, at their jobs, nurses are on the front lines of our sick economy. They see patients who can’t afford their medications, prenatal care, and other essential services. But nurses know there is a solution.
It’s time for politicians to stop coddling Wall Street and start caring for Main Street America. National Nurses United is proposing a small tax on Wall Street transactions that would both curb reckless speculation and provide up to 350 billion in funds to heal our ailing economy.
Economist Dean Baker Advocates for Speculation Tax on Financial Transactions
Why we need to tax Wall Street transactions, Public Citizen, Jan. 29, 2010
Bills before Congress would create a speculation tax on financial transactions that could raise funds from the rich while deterring the harmful churning of stocks. Economist Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic Policy Research, discusses why we need a speculation tax, or financial transaction tax.
———————————————————————————————————————–
Stock Transfer Tax, “Year in Ideas 2008″, New York Times Magazine, 12/14/2008
The New York Times magazine called it one of the top ideas of 2008, and numerous economists support the FTT.
Baker “estimates that a small tax of up to one quarter of 1 percent imposed on the sale of a wide range of securities would do more than curb speculation; it would also yield $100 billion to $150 billion — money that could go toward paying for aid to Wall Street. Better still, Baker contends, most of the revenue would end up coming from Wall Street, not ordinary investors.”
Bills before Congress would create a speculation tax on financial transactions that could raise funds from the rich while deterring the harmful churning of stocks. Economist Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic Policy Research, discusses why we need a speculation tax, or financial transaction tax.
———————————————————————————————————————–
Stock Transfer Tax, “Year in Ideas 2008″, New York Times Magazine, 12/14/2008
The New York Times magazine called it one of the top ideas of 2008, and numerous economists support the FTT.
Baker “estimates that a small tax of up to one quarter of 1 percent imposed on the sale of a wide range of securities would do more than curb speculation; it would also yield $100 billion to $150 billion — money that could go toward paying for aid to Wall Street. Better still, Baker contends, most of the revenue would end up coming from Wall Street, not ordinary investors.”
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