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    "Sarah Chayes"
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Source: Getty

In The Media

Tax Avoidance: A Global Industry

The Panama Papers leak exposes not only a global system of tax avoidance, but the corrupt networks between government officials, organized criminals, and private institutions.

Link Copied
By Sarah Chayes
Published on Apr 7, 2016
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Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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Source: KCRW’s To the Point

The leak of 11.5 million documents from a Panamanian law firm has revealed a vast, deeply rooted infrastructure for hiding money and has caused embarrassment around the world. The Prime Minister of Iceland has resigned. Vladimir Putin has gone on television to deny that his assets are hidden in a shell company owned by a friend. The president of China has demanded censorship of reporting on the “Panama Papers.”

Sarah Chayes spoke to To the Point’s Warren Olney about how U.S. law and companies help foster such corrupt practices. She further explained how kleptocratic governments fuel insecurity from Afghanistan to Nigeria.

This interview was original broadcast on KCRW’s To the Point.

About the Author

Sarah Chayes

Former Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Sarah Chayes is internationally recognized for her innovative thinking on corruption and its implications. Her work explores how severe corruption can help prompt such crises as terrorism, revolutions and their violent aftermaths, and environmental degradation.

    Recent Work

  • Commentary
    China Financial Markets test

      Sarah Chayes

  • Paper
    Fighting the Hydra: Lessons From Worldwide Protests Against Corruption

      Sarah Chayes

Sarah Chayes
Former Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Sarah Chayes
DemocracyNorth AmericaUnited StatesSouth AmericaEast AsiaRussiaWestern Europe

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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