Alex Cobham
@alexcobham.bsky.social
Chief executive @taxjustice.net (he/him). New book: 'What do we know and what should we do about... Tax justice?' (SAGE Press): https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/what-do-we-know-and-what-should-we-do-about-tax-justice/book286416
Reposted by Alex Cobham
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
January 24, 2026 at 8:29 PM
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
To the extent that they have created an international organisation, notwithstanding possible violation of US law, what are the most obvious legal routes now open to hold the organisation accountable (in the unlikely event it were to do anything contrary to any other national or international laws)?
US law requires 2/3 Senate approval for international treaties
Trump’s Board of Peace has now officially been recognized as an international organization, according to the White House.
January 22, 2026 at 1:40 PM
To the extent that they have created an international organisation, notwithstanding possible violation of US law, what are the most obvious legal routes now open to hold the organisation accountable (in the unlikely event it were to do anything contrary to any other national or international laws)?
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Seriously! Time for govt's to stop outsourcing, especially to tax dodging corporations, particularly private equity owned or multinationals... @cictar.bsky.social @epsu.bsky.social @cpsu.org.au
Debt collector hired to chase unpaid taxes for the ATO pays zero corporate tax itself
Neither Recoveriescorp nor its parent entity has paid the tax since securing multi-million dollar government contracts
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Seriously! Time for govt's to stop outsourcing, especially to tax dodging corporations, particularly private equity owned or multinationals... @cictar.bsky.social @epsu.bsky.social @cpsu.org.au
Reposted by Alex Cobham
When even millionaires, like us, recognise that extreme wealth has cost everyone else everything else, there can be no doubt that society is dangerously teetering off the edge of a precipice.
We want our democracies back. We want our communities back. We want our future back.
We want our democracies back. We want our communities back. We want our future back.
January 21, 2026 at 7:01 AM
When even millionaires, like us, recognise that extreme wealth has cost everyone else everything else, there can be no doubt that society is dangerously teetering off the edge of a precipice.
We want our democracies back. We want our communities back. We want our future back.
We want our democracies back. We want our communities back. We want our future back.
People are saying Trump's board of peace...
January 20, 2026 at 11:17 AM
People are saying Trump's board of peace...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Denmark should offer to trade Trump Greenland for the Epstein Files
January 19, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Denmark should offer to trade Trump Greenland for the Epstein Files
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Once finance grows beyond a certain size, it stops supporting growth and becomes a drag on the economy 📈
These important findings came out of last week’s Too Much Finance conference at LSE, covered by @guardianheather.bsky.social for the @theguardian.com ⬇️
buff.ly/N1IdbZd
These important findings came out of last week’s Too Much Finance conference at LSE, covered by @guardianheather.bsky.social for the @theguardian.com ⬇️
buff.ly/N1IdbZd
Why Rachel Reeves should give bankers more of the cold shoulder at Davos 2026 | Heather Stewart
The chancellor has been cosseting City lenders to fuel economic growth but studies show UK plc would be better served by trying to keep them in check
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Once finance grows beyond a certain size, it stops supporting growth and becomes a drag on the economy 📈
These important findings came out of last week’s Too Much Finance conference at LSE, covered by @guardianheather.bsky.social for the @theguardian.com ⬇️
buff.ly/N1IdbZd
These important findings came out of last week’s Too Much Finance conference at LSE, covered by @guardianheather.bsky.social for the @theguardian.com ⬇️
buff.ly/N1IdbZd
Reposted by Alex Cobham
#LestWeForget ⚡️much of the activity that goes on in the City is “socially useless”⚡️(Adair Turner).
ht @alexcobham.bsky.social @taxjustice.net
ht @alexcobham.bsky.social @taxjustice.net
Sound snalysis from Heather Stewart at the Guardian... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Why Rachel Reeves should give bankers more of the cold shoulder at Davos 2026 | Heather Stewart
The chancellor has been cosseting City lenders to fuel economic growth but studies show UK plc would be better served by trying to keep them in check
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:52 AM
#LestWeForget ⚡️much of the activity that goes on in the City is “socially useless”⚡️(Adair Turner).
ht @alexcobham.bsky.social @taxjustice.net
ht @alexcobham.bsky.social @taxjustice.net
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Sound snalysis from Heather Stewart at the Guardian... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Why Rachel Reeves should give bankers more of the cold shoulder at Davos 2026 | Heather Stewart
The chancellor has been cosseting City lenders to fuel economic growth but studies show UK plc would be better served by trying to keep them in check
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Sound snalysis from Heather Stewart at the Guardian... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Beyond a certain point more financial services stop being a benefit to the economy and become a drag.
#EconSky
open.substack.com/pub/josgalla...
#EconSky
open.substack.com/pub/josgalla...
Finance: Too Much of a Good Thing?
I have written before about the British Paradox.The UK has a large, globally significant financial sector but, at the same time, the UK lags behind its peers in the level of investment.
open.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Beyond a certain point more financial services stop being a benefit to the economy and become a drag.
#EconSky
open.substack.com/pub/josgalla...
#EconSky
open.substack.com/pub/josgalla...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
U.S. billionaires made record-breaking extreme wealth gains last year. But "Average taxpayers like you and I," says IPS @inequality.org researcher @ocampomar.bsky.social in @truthout.org, "still pay income tax at triple the rate of the wealthiest Americans."
Top 15 US Billionaires Gained Nearly $1 Trillion in Wealth in Trump’s First Year
The US has 935 billionaires, roughly a dozen of whom have jobs within the Trump administration.
truthout.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 PM
U.S. billionaires made record-breaking extreme wealth gains last year. But "Average taxpayers like you and I," says IPS @inequality.org researcher @ocampomar.bsky.social in @truthout.org, "still pay income tax at triple the rate of the wealthiest Americans."
Reposted by Alex Cobham
For a fortifying shot in the arm of sharp historical thinking about neoliberalism, read this (and get your students to read it) from @quinnslobodian.com @tsasson.bsky.social Priya Lal & Gary Gerstle
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Writing the History of Neoliberalism: A Comment | Transactions of the Royal Historical Society | Cambridge Core
Writing the History of Neoliberalism: A Comment
www.cambridge.org
January 16, 2026 at 11:55 AM
For a fortifying shot in the arm of sharp historical thinking about neoliberalism, read this (and get your students to read it) from @quinnslobodian.com @tsasson.bsky.social Priya Lal & Gary Gerstle
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Sometimes things don't move, and sometimes they do. The day after our conference on 'Too much finance', and the costs to an economy like the UK, another big hitter has come out to call for higher capital requirements on UK banks...
We're up and running with the Too Much Finance conference! Prof Thorsten Beck is giving the first keynote taxjustice.net/events/too-m...
January 16, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Sometimes things don't move, and sometimes they do. The day after our conference on 'Too much finance', and the costs to an economy like the UK, another big hitter has come out to call for higher capital requirements on UK banks...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
@alexcobham.bsky.social thanks for the mention - Here is the full report that can be downloaded. www.balancedeconomy.org/latest/big-f...
Too Big To Cool The Planet - How Big Finance Is Holding Back the Fight Against Global Warming — Balanced Economy Project
A new report from The Balanced Economy, titled “Too Big To Cool The Planet, How Financial Power Blocks Planet-friendly Action and how to Break It” explores how the growing size, concentration and poli...
www.balancedeconomy.org
January 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM
@alexcobham.bsky.social thanks for the mention - Here is the full report that can be downloaded. www.balancedeconomy.org/latest/big-f...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Oooh, this looks interesting.
We're up and running with the Too Much Finance conference! Prof Thorsten Beck is giving the first keynote taxjustice.net/events/too-m...
January 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Oooh, this looks interesting.
Reposted by Alex Cobham
"Too much finance?" - a crucial (research) question!
We're up and running with the Too Much Finance conference! Prof Thorsten Beck is giving the first keynote taxjustice.net/events/too-m...
January 14, 2026 at 10:10 AM
"Too much finance?" - a crucial (research) question!
We're up and running with the Too Much Finance conference! Prof Thorsten Beck is giving the first keynote taxjustice.net/events/too-m...
January 14, 2026 at 9:13 AM
We're up and running with the Too Much Finance conference! Prof Thorsten Beck is giving the first keynote taxjustice.net/events/too-m...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Join us, @taxjustice.net and @officialuom.bsky.social for a session on economic crime and #BeneficialOwnership #transparency hosted by International Centre for Comparative Criminology on 22 Jan. Join us in Montreal or online. Read more👇
Details and registration: www.cicc-iccc.org/fr/evenement...
Details and registration: www.cicc-iccc.org/fr/evenement...
January 13, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Join us, @taxjustice.net and @officialuom.bsky.social for a session on economic crime and #BeneficialOwnership #transparency hosted by International Centre for Comparative Criminology on 22 Jan. Join us in Montreal or online. Read more👇
Details and registration: www.cicc-iccc.org/fr/evenement...
Details and registration: www.cicc-iccc.org/fr/evenement...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
Developments such as this increase the import of digital services taxes in the UK and Europe. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are moving into advertising & sales promotion. TikTok now a major retail channel. Only fair these low-taxed companies pay more. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
JD Sports plans to let shoppers buy through AI platforms
Retailer to allow ‘one-click purchases’ through assistants such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, beginning in US
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Developments such as this increase the import of digital services taxes in the UK and Europe. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are moving into advertising & sales promotion. TikTok now a major retail channel. Only fair these low-taxed companies pay more. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
In light of FIFA's announcement that they will allow betting companies to live stream World Cup matches, re-upping this brilliant investigation from @stevemenary.bsky.social and @samindrakunti.bsky.social for @playthegame-org.bsky.social www.playthegame.org/news/fifa-li...
FIFA+ livestreams fuel global in-play betting markets
New research from Play the Game shows how unlicensed betting companies are using FIFA’s own streaming platform to offer in-play wagers on low-level matches worldwide. Many smaller federations are unaw...
www.playthegame.org
January 13, 2026 at 8:41 AM
In light of FIFA's announcement that they will allow betting companies to live stream World Cup matches, re-upping this brilliant investigation from @stevemenary.bsky.social and @samindrakunti.bsky.social for @playthegame-org.bsky.social www.playthegame.org/news/fifa-li...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
If you think he's going to play nicely in markets/finance then I love that for you. Adorable.
My thing this weekend:
What is to stop Trump upending the rules in global finance too? - as.ft.com/r/53e52459-8...
My thing this weekend:
What is to stop Trump upending the rules in global finance too? - as.ft.com/r/53e52459-8...
What is to stop Trump upending the rules in global finance too?
[FREE TO READ] Action against Venezuela and sabre-rattling towards Greenland point to risks in US president’s approach to the Fed
as.ft.com
January 11, 2026 at 12:22 PM
If you think he's going to play nicely in markets/finance then I love that for you. Adorable.
My thing this weekend:
What is to stop Trump upending the rules in global finance too? - as.ft.com/r/53e52459-8...
My thing this weekend:
What is to stop Trump upending the rules in global finance too? - as.ft.com/r/53e52459-8...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
3/
I’m especially happy to share that next week the LSE will host a conference built around the “Too Much Finance” agenda.
@alexcobham.bsky.social & David Cobham. @taxjustice.net @gvagrad.bsky.social
lnkd.in/dDTksgHx
I’m especially happy to share that next week the LSE will host a conference built around the “Too Much Finance” agenda.
@alexcobham.bsky.social & David Cobham. @taxjustice.net @gvagrad.bsky.social
lnkd.in/dDTksgHx
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
January 10, 2026 at 11:17 AM
3/
I’m especially happy to share that next week the LSE will host a conference built around the “Too Much Finance” agenda.
@alexcobham.bsky.social & David Cobham. @taxjustice.net @gvagrad.bsky.social
lnkd.in/dDTksgHx
I’m especially happy to share that next week the LSE will host a conference built around the “Too Much Finance” agenda.
@alexcobham.bsky.social & David Cobham. @taxjustice.net @gvagrad.bsky.social
lnkd.in/dDTksgHx
Reposted by Alex Cobham
2/
It was eventually published in 2015 in the Journal of Economic Growth.
What we didn’t anticipate was how far the research agenda would travel: the paper has now nearly 3000 citations & spurred a broader literature on the real effects of financial sector expansion.
ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jecgro...
It was eventually published in 2015 in the Journal of Economic Growth.
What we didn’t anticipate was how far the research agenda would travel: the paper has now nearly 3000 citations & spurred a broader literature on the real effects of financial sector expansion.
ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jecgro...
Too much finance?
This paper examines whether there is a threshold above which financial depth no longer has a positive effect on economic growth. We use different empirical approaches to show that financial depth star
ideas.repec.org
January 10, 2026 at 11:17 AM
2/
It was eventually published in 2015 in the Journal of Economic Growth.
What we didn’t anticipate was how far the research agenda would travel: the paper has now nearly 3000 citations & spurred a broader literature on the real effects of financial sector expansion.
ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jecgro...
It was eventually published in 2015 in the Journal of Economic Growth.
What we didn’t anticipate was how far the research agenda would travel: the paper has now nearly 3000 citations & spurred a broader literature on the real effects of financial sector expansion.
ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jecgro...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
1/
In 2012, Jean-Louis Arcand, Enrico Berkes and I issued an IMF WP: “Too Much Finance?”
It shows that finance supports growth up to a point but at some point more finance can hurt
The road to publication wasn’t smooth. The paper received many desk rejections…
ideas.repec.org/p/imf/imfwpa...
In 2012, Jean-Louis Arcand, Enrico Berkes and I issued an IMF WP: “Too Much Finance?”
It shows that finance supports growth up to a point but at some point more finance can hurt
The road to publication wasn’t smooth. The paper received many desk rejections…
ideas.repec.org/p/imf/imfwpa...
Too Much Finance?
This paper examines whether there is a threshold above which financial development no longer has a positive effect on economic growth. We use different empirical approaches to show that there can inde
ideas.repec.org
January 10, 2026 at 11:17 AM
1/
In 2012, Jean-Louis Arcand, Enrico Berkes and I issued an IMF WP: “Too Much Finance?”
It shows that finance supports growth up to a point but at some point more finance can hurt
The road to publication wasn’t smooth. The paper received many desk rejections…
ideas.repec.org/p/imf/imfwpa...
In 2012, Jean-Louis Arcand, Enrico Berkes and I issued an IMF WP: “Too Much Finance?”
It shows that finance supports growth up to a point but at some point more finance can hurt
The road to publication wasn’t smooth. The paper received many desk rejections…
ideas.repec.org/p/imf/imfwpa...
Reposted by Alex Cobham
I think we should call this the Turner Curve. A larger financial sector is beneficial only up to a point, after which it adds nothing but takes resources from the the rest of the economy.
January 10, 2026 at 10:37 AM