Blogs

Home Blogs

  • Theme

  • Programme

  • Blog Authors

Showing 13-24 of 34 Blogs
August 2022|
Blog

How the Taliban’s more effective and ‘fairer’ tax system helped it win control of Afghanistan

by Ashley Jackson

When the Taliban dramatically gained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they used bombs and guns to swiftly overcome state security forces. But they also had another valuable and effective weapon at their disposal: taxes….
June 2022|
Blog

How will the E-levy impact the informal sector in Ghana?

by Rhiannon McCluskey & Philipa Birago Akuoko

The Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy), a 1.5% tax on all electronic transactions, went into effect on the 1st of May amongst considerable uncertainty and controversy….
woman-in-afghanistan
March 2022|
Blog

Why do armed groups tax? It’s not just about the money

by Vanessa van den Boogaard, Max Gallien, Ashley Jackson, Tanya Bandula-Irwin & Florian Weigand

In this blog, the authors argue that revenue is only one of several motives that explain why armed groups tax….
People_informal_market_Nigeria
November 2021|
Blog

The World Bank and IMF are using flawed logic in their quest to do away with the informal sector

by Vanessa van den Boogaard, Max Gallien & Mike Rogan

Many low and middle-income countries face a myriad of challenges. But policies that can address them…
Community driven development in Somalia
October 2021|
Blog

Citizen-led financing of public services in fragile contexts: New evidence from Somalia

by Vanessa van den Boogaard

Two billion people live in countries where development outcomes are affected by fragility, conflict, and violence….
Moroccan dirhams
October 2021|
Blog

Would Moroccans accept a state zakat fund? Should they?

by Vanessa van den Boogaard, Max Gallien, Soukayna Remmal & Umair Javed

Zakat can add up to big money. Although estimates vary, some suggest that global annual zakat…
rickety bridge built next to broken bridge
July 2021|
Blog

Informal taxation in Nigeria: Significance, benefits and challenges

by Jacob Aondohemba Iormbagah

Across Nigeria, a journey through rural communities and interaction with community members will expose you to…
image of a cannabis plant
June 2021|
Blog

Cannabis taxation – A new revenue source for development?

by Max Gallien, Giovanni Occhiali & Soukayna Remmal

In recent years, the legalisation of cannabis – initially for medical use, and increasingly for recreational…
Money bundle
May 2021|
Blog

The Zakat as a means of wealth redistribution: What role for the state?

by Fatema Johoora

While many economists and politicians have begun to talk seriously about using wealth taxes to raise…
Picture of a street vendor in a souk in Morocco
January 2021|
Blog

Informal Work and Auto-Entrepreneurship Laws in the Maghreb: What can Tunisia learn from Morocco?

by Max Gallien & Othmane Bourhaba

Informal economies in North Africa have frequently captured public attention in recent years. They not only…
Classroom in a school in Sierra Leone
November 2020|
Blog

The inequity of informal financing of public education in Sierra Leone

by Vanessa van den Boogaard

Though education is a core duty of the state, public education in Sierra Leone is financed…
Market with street vendors
April 2020|
Blog

Unpacking Formalisation: The need for a new research agenda on taxation and the informal economy

by Vanessa van den Boogaard & Max Gallien

ICTD Informality and Taxation blog series The ICTD’s Informality and Tax programme seeks to conduct, connect,…