Taxation, Economic Globalization and the Caribbean – By David Jessop

Commentary: The View from Europe: Taxation, economic globalisation and the Caribbean
By David Jessop

David Jessop

No one likes to pay taxes. Despite this, there is widespread recognition that their imposition is necessary if citizens are to be provided with social services such as education, health care and pensions.

For most Caribbean countries taxation is problematic. Small populations, relatively low levels of economic activity, high levels of debt, weak administration, and severe and costly challenges, such as that posed by climate change, mean that the domestic tax base in much of the region is unlikely ever to cover the cost of all recurrent and capital expenditure.