‘Robin Hood’ Tax on Bankers Could Raise as Much as UK Aid Budget

Ethical MarketsReforming Global Finance

New research published today by the Institute of Development Studies
(IDS) finds that a worldwide financial transaction tax (FTT) on foreign
exchange transactions could raise US$26 billion (£17.6 billion). In the UK
alone it could raise US$11 billion (£7.7 billion), roughly the same as the
entire UK aid budget. But the evidence does not support the argument that it
will reduce market volatility.

As world leaders debate post-crisis plans at the G20 Seoul Summit this week,
IDS publishes findings from the first comprehensive review of the
feasibility of FTTs. The research finds that a new bankers tax is viable and
could raise large sums. A tax on foreign exchange transactions would be most
effective if implemented by the key financial centres around the world, but
a currency transaction tax could be introduced by individual countries.

The research’s author, IDS Research Fellow Dr Neil McCulloch, will tell MPs,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil servants meeting in
Westminster today that he believes the Government should design and
implement an FTT on sterling transactions. He will claim that the UK should
be using the G20 as an opportunity to explore the possibility of
coordinating the introduction of similar FTTs with the governments of other
major financial centres.

Commenting on the findings, IDS Research Fellow Neil McCulloch said:

“As governments around the world deliberate how to reduce budget deficits,
the evidence supports the idea that a financial transaction tax could make a
useful contribution. It may not reduce market volatility, as some of its
proponents claim, but if designed properly, it will not destabilise markets
either.

“There is a real opportunity for the Government to implement an FTT on
sterling transactions and explore the possibility of coordinating the
introduction of similar taxes with other major financial centres on their
own currencies.”

Key research findings include:

* Implementation: Due to changes in the way transactions are settled,
it is now much easier for countries to unilaterally introduce certain forms
of FTTs. A tax on foreign exchange transactions would be most effective if
implemented by the key financial centres around the world, but a currency
transaction tax could be implemented by individual countries and by the
Eurozone.
* Impact on volatility: An FTT is unlikely to reduce market volatility
as claimed by some campaigners. Despite theoretical models suggesting
otherwise, the evidence shows that higher transaction costs are typically
associated with more, rather than less, volatility. As a result the rate of
the transaction tax should be a small percentage of existing transaction
costs to minimise market distortions.
* Revenue: Applying a 0.005 per cent tax to the foreign exchange market
alone might raise around US$26 billion per year (£17.6 billion) worldwide.
The revenue potential for the UK would be around US$11 billion (£7.7
billion). Applying an FTT to other markets, e.g.
derivatives and OTC markets, is more difficult, but, if successful, could
raise much larger sums.