August 11, 2020
Taxation and Social Contract in a Post-pandemic Era
Date: August 17, 2020
Time: 9.00 AM (CST, USA); 5.00PM (East Africa); 3:00 PM (UK/WEST AFRICA)
The responses of countries to the coronavirus pandemic have been limited by the strength of their revenue collection, especially through taxation. On the other hand, the expectations of citizens from their governments have been high, notwithstanding the strength or otherwise of the social contract between the sovereigns and the governed. In many developing countries, it is argued that the social contract has failed or is failing, calling for its review, if citizens will be obliged, whether legally or morally, to keep funding the social contract. As Alexander Ezenagu, the symposium convener argues, this conversation is applicable at the international level, as well as to domestic tax conversations.
This webinar is a follow-up to the recently concluded Taxation and the Social Contract in a Post-Pandemic Era: Domestic and International Dimensions Symposium which had 20 blog submissions. The Webinar panelists will deliberate on the following questions: has the social contract between the state and the governed in many states been broken? Can the broken social contract be repaired and what role can the law play in repairing the broken social contract? How should countries reform their tax law and policies to be self-sufficient, while ensuring representation and accountability? What is the role of international tax rules in national sufficiency and how should international tax rules be designed in light of fiscal sovereignty and equity?”
We hope you can join us for this important conversation. The video recording of the webinar is now live on our YouTube Channel.
Panelists
- Obiageli Ezekwesili, Economic Policy Expert and Former Vice-President, Africa Region, World Bank, (Keynote Reflection)
- Steven Dean, Faculty Director of the Graduate Tax Program at NYU Law and Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School
- Irma Mosquera, Associate Professor, Leiden University
- Thulani Shongwe, Head, Resource Mobilization, African Tax Administration Forum.
- Fred Mugambi: Commissioner, Kenya Revenue Authority and Head, KESRA
Moderators:
James Thuo Gathii, Wing-Tat Lee Chair of International Law and Professor of Law Loyola University of Chicago School of Law
Alexander Ezenagu, Assistant Professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar; and Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa.
Jointly hosted by Afronomicslaw and the Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa.