The global financial crisis drained government coffers and rocked public confidence around the world. Many leaders now believe taxes on financial transactions and/or financial activities could relieve these shortfalls and shore up the public’s faith in the workings of economies near and far. Some policymakers and observers want to coordinate these new taxes internationally to avoid the flight of financial markets. But can financial taxes raise substantial revenue? And who would bear the taxes: the financial sector or the small investor? Will these taxes reduce risky financial activities or impede healthy market operations? Our panel of experts will discuss these and other timely questions.

Panelists

• Michael Keen, Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs, International Monetary Fund
• Steve Rosenthal, Visiting Fellow, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (moderator)
• Daniel Shaviro, Professor, New York University School of Law
• Lee Sheppard, Contributing Editor, Tax Notes
• Damon Silvers, Director of Policy & Special Counsel, AFL-CIO 

Resources

• Panelist Bios
• "Financial Sector Taxation," The IMF's Report to the G-20 and Background Material (September 2010)
• "The Financial Transactions Tax vs. The Financial Activities Tax," Tax Analysts, Daniel Shaviro (April 23, 2012)
• "The Financial Transactions Tax Is Coming," Tax Analysts, Lee Sheppard (January 23, 2012)
• "The Argument for Financial Transactions Taxes," Tax Analysts, Lee Sheppard (September 19, 2011)