The full version of this mythbuster, which I have co-written with Dan Hind on tax havens and what we can do about them is now available on line, here.
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I am strongly opposed to the existence of offshore finance centers, but I would like to point out what I see as a point of confusion in your mythbuster, Richard. The confusion is the distinction between property rights and human rights where you say,
“Instead their property rights may be protected, if only because they are hidden, but the abuse of their human as opposed to property rights does not end as a result of hiding their cash.”
Just to remind ourselves of Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“Article 17
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.”
That is to say that “property rights” +are+ a “human right”, meaning that we cannot oppose property rights and human rights in the way you suggest we can. I think that you might like to reconsider rephrasing this part of the text to avoid this kind of conceptual confusion.
Thank you and keep up the terrific work!