The problems for the Jersey economy just grow and grow – or rather shrink and shrink. Data on Jersey’s income for 2009 has just been published. The summary says: The main economic indicators which measure the value or size of the whole Jersey economy are GVA (Gross Value Added) and GNI (Gross National Income). The
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The FT reports: The failure of Anglo Irish bank, the lender at the centre of the country’s financial crisis, would “bring down” Ireland, the country’s finance minister said, as he vowed the government would stand behind the institution as it winds down. As Ireland’s Finance Minister said: Any Anglo failure would bring down the sovereign.
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Denmark has set a new precedent in tackling secrecy jurisdiction abuse. It’s been reported that: The Tax Ministry of Denmark has released new data and launched an investigation into the vast amounts of transactions Danish entities and tax havens. The investigation is part of the Ministry’s Project Money Transfer, which began with request to national
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This says much of what I think about the right wing blogosphere: They seem to be the ultimate definition of negativity – talk, and obstruction to all action for the common good. I wonder if they ever actually created anything? Cartoon credit here.

Chartered accountant Richard Lupson-Darnell has written to his MP about the proposed cuts at HMRC and their impact on  the tax gap. I commend his approach. And suggest it’s worth replicating – and his text is a good starting point.

  That got your attention. And it isn’t true. I am in fact referring to  a website with the above name. The web site has been set up in Bangalore wit the aim of highlighting the range of corruption that is taking place inside India right now. I admire the courage of those who have
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Bloomberg note: The Vatican has yet to formally commit to financial transparency, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said one week after Italian magistrates opened a probe into its bank for alleged violations of money-laundering laws. While the Holy See said last week that it’s in talks with the OECD about getting on the
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You know what accountants are like. “Free markets work.” “Stop government interference.” “Cut regulation.” “Leave the market to get on with it.” Blah, blah, blah. Until, that is, it suits them to argue otherwise. Take this from the FT this morning: A cap on the market share of UK auditors needs to be introduced to
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Frances O’Grady, deputy general secretary of the TUC and a person for whom I have a lot of admiration was on form at the Labour party conference yesterday where it’s reported she said that: The appointment of Sir Philip Green to head a review of government spending was like putting Herod in charge of a
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