From Secrecy to Transparency: The End of Hidden Wealth?

Over the past decade, the architecture of international tax enforcement has undergone a transformation in the fight against tax secrecy. To what extent newly introduced reforms such as the automatic exchange of financial account information and the introduction of beneficial ownership registries have actually reduced financial secrecy?

This conference examines emerging evidence on how these transparency innovations affect offshore tax evasion and illicit activity. Drawing on new administrative data and cross-country research, it explores both successes and implementation gaps, highlighting how outcomes depend on the interaction between global standards, domestic enforcement capacity, and evolving forms of secrecy.