In a live-streamed event from 1 pm to 2 pm EST on Friday, April 21, the World Bank will host a discussion of a critical development issue: Taxes. The event, Boosting Revenues, Driving Development: Why Taxes are Critical for Growth, will include an illustrious list of panelists, representing many different perspectives:
- Gargee Ghosh, Director of Development Policy and Finance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Michael Keen, Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
- Will Morris, Deputy Global Tax Policy Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Minister of Finance, Latvia
- Jan Walliser, Vice President, Equitable Finance and Institutions, World Bank Group
The premise of the discussion is this: That countries need a certain level of tax revenue – 15 percent of GDP – to provide basic services to their citizens, such as education, health care, and road infrastructure.
We know that with lower tax revenues it is difficult for governments to function well . We also know, given the global scope and the interconnected nature of the international tax system, that this is not something developing countries can achieve alone.
We all have roles in supporting this goal, but what, exactly, are reasonable roles? How should international organizations act? What should donor countries do? How can private sector companies contribute? What is the most productive part that civil society can play?
This is the beginning of a conversation, and we hope you will join in. You can do this through Twitter, using the hashtag #Tax4Dev. Or you can ask questions directly on the event page. If you are in Washington, D.C., you can join us in person – please RSVP here!
However you choose to engage, we hope to see you Friday.
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