Birkbeck's Big Ideas: Dirty Money: The Offshore Industry, Wealth and the Abuse of Privilege
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External
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Why should anyone be interested in offshore trusts? Or, rather, why should those who are not millionaires be concerned with what the very rich do with their money?
This free and engaging public lecture, from Professor Adam Gearey of Birkbeck, University of London's School of Law, argues that the offshore industry has been used to conceal staggering amounts of money and assets in such a way as to make them invisible to national governments. Whilst some undoubtedly have legitimate reasons to use the offshore industry to manage their money, there is also persuasive evidence that offshore trusts and tax havens are used for more nefarious ends; depriving us of taxes, distorting markets, frustrating court orders and money laundering. Indeed, recent high profile cases point at the fact that there is very little distinction between dirty and clean money.
Adam will argue that tax evasion is not a victimless crime, and unless there are far reaching reforms of the offshore criminal industrial complex, we will see a further degeneration of democratic politics and a continuation of the politics of greed and selfishness.
Who is Adam Gearey?
Adam Gearey is a professor of law at Birkbeck College. He has been a visiting professor at the Faculty of Law at Makerere University, Uganda; the University of Pretoria, The University of Peace Costa Rica, and a visiting scholar at The Center for Law and Society, University of California, Berkeley. His most recent books are Poverty Law and Legal Activism (London: Routledge, 2018), and Welfare as Justice (Continuum, 2012).
What is Birkbeck's Big Ideas?
Birkbeck's Big Ideas is a series of thought-provoking free public lectures, delivered in the local community by Birkbeck researchers from a wide range of subject areas. Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of previous educational experience, and the lectures are a chance to learn something new.
The event is FREE and open to all, but please note that seating is allocated on a first come first served basis. Registration and refreshments start at 6pm and the talk will commence at 6.15pm. We look forward to welcoming you to this Birkbeck's Big Idea event!
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