"Davos 2017: Oxfam attacks failing global tax avoidance battle", 19 Jan 2017

Efforts to tackle global tax avoidance are being undermined by a “race to the bottom” on corporate tax rates led by Britain and the US, the World Economic Forum heard on Thursday.  Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International, told an audience at Davos that world leaders are failing...to make firms pay their fair share..."This year we need to see progress on this corporate tax competition,”...Byanyima cited data showing that Kenya is losing $1.1bn (£893m) through tax exemptions and incentives each year.  “That’s almost double its health budget; in a country where one in 40 children die at childbirth. This is really a human rights issue.”...the UK prime minister, Theresa May, warned European politicians that Britain would set “competitive tax rates” to lure companies and investors to Britain, if it didn’t get an acceptable Brexit deal.  However, on Thursday, she told leaders in Davos that businesses need to pay their fair share of tax...Byanyima argues that businesses need to see tax as a moral issue, and an obligation to help fund heath, education, to create jobs and opportunities for young people...