International Taxation and the Global Structure of Capitalism: The Influence of the OECD in the Design of the International Tax System

Abstract

This article offers a Marxian interpretation of international taxation in the context of a global structure of capitalism that has evolved toward a core/periphery division, driven by the process of accumulation of capital and a moving away from the rate of profit’s tendency to fall. Taxation played an active role in this, deploying its functions of money regulator and enabling the realization of surplus value and the accumulation of capital. International taxation projects such functions onto the global capitalist system, aligning tax revenue with the holding of money. The analysis of taxation tendencies focuses on OECD proposals and OECD countries. Although improbable given the functions of taxation within capitalism, I propose certain tax reforms as an alternative to the current structure and tendencies of taxation. JEL Classification: F01, H29