金融取引税、Tasa Tobin
VIDA&ARTES
La 'Tasa Tobin’, de utopía a proyecto urgente
Francia impondrá el tributo sobre las transacciones financieras sin esperar al resto de Europa Desafía la idea de que no es viable en un solo país
Penalizar la especulación conlleva riesgos
David Fernández Madrid 31 ENE 2012 - 21:13 CET
LIFE & ARTS
The 'Tobin Tax', urgent project of utopia
France will impose the tax on financial transactions without waiting for the rest of Europe challenges the idea that it is not feasible in one country
Penalize speculation carries risks
David Fernández Madrid 31 ENE 2012 - 21:13 CET
History is full of ironies. The first to speak of putting a tax on financial transactions, as has happened since 1936 - was ... An Englishman! John Maynard Keynes would be branded traitors and today the list of critics would head himself British Prime Minister David Cameron. And is that the City of London, one of the largest financial centers in the world, is not played. Four decades after Keynes launched the proposal to curb swings and some bags he likened to a casino, one of his disciples, James Tobin, took up the idea. Once dismantled the Bretton Woods system, the idea of this was to reduce American economist currency speculation.
Since then the possibility of applying this tax has been appearing and disappearing from the academic and political scene. So much is its intermittency that the new Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti-Tobin had a professorship at Yale University, has been compared to the Loch Ness monster. In recent months, the idea of applying the rate, also known as Robin Hood tax, has now regained. A group of countries led by France and Germany want to apply this tax with two objectives: to reduce systemic risk in financial markets, the exponential growth threatens to atrophy, and reinforce the battered public coffers by paying those who identify to cause the crisis (banks, hedge funds ...).
First he led the G-20, but among the largest economies in the world unanimity was not achieved. He later tried to impose in the 27 EU countries, but the resistance of some, with Britain in the lead, this possibility away. The lack of support is not daunted to Paris and Berlin, who want to impose the rate in the 17 euro zone countries. For now, the duo has already Merkozy accession Monti and Mariano Rajoy, among other leaders.
France has announced it expects to apply its own rate from August to tax the shares traded on the Paris stock exchange, insurance against sovereign debt default (CDS) and automatic orders dropped by computers (High Frequency Trading). French Prime Minister Francois Fillon reiterated that wants to implement it before reaching an agreement with European partners, because "the process is slow and there is resistance." This position challenges the argument that this rate could be imposed only on a global scale.
UK, Ireland and 27 other countries have in place this rate
NGOs and the so-called anti-globalization movement maintained this claim, criticized as utopian, for decades. They are the first to be surprised. "This is no longer just an idea advocated by some civil society organizations to become a class issue on the political agenda," said Susana Ruiz, Spanish spokesperson of the Alliance for the Robin Hood Tax, a global platform integrates to 400 organizations, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Greenpeace. "The excesses of the financial sector are at the root of this crisis, which translates into hunger and lack of protection for millions of people. Even the IMF recognizes that a sector is under-taxed and under-regulated. It is logical that in a context of fiscal austerity measures will not only aimed at citizens, "concludes Ruiz.
The Tobin tax is a measure that generated intense debate, with adhesions and rejections almost unbreakable. Some see it as a fair measure to curb the appetite of financial sharks and build a less volatile market, others think that all it would do is increase costs to the end investor, there are those who believe that their success would guarantee only one application Overall, there is even a group of economists who see this debate as a kind of squid ink, ie that is falling is not a priority and only responds to election of certain political needs.
"Launching the debate on the Tobin tax is a mistake now," says Santiago Carbo, Professor of Economic Analysis at the University of Granada. "Politicians should focus on what is really urgent, that is, on how to solve the sovereign debt crisis, and not think so much of such a tax or ban bearish bets on the stock market." Carbo considers that the current approach is wrong. "I agree that the financial sector should contribute to their rescue. But there are other formulas. Europe can not apply this levy linearly for all operations, whether speculative or not. Neither makes sense is made unilaterally because investors will find its way around the tax using other markets that do not impose the fee. "
"Ideally, you should apply a comprehensive way," says a fund manager
Financial transactions are taxed on the capital gains, plus commission costs that come with them. However, while consumers who buy goods and services pay indirect taxes (VAT and other taxes) for market agents can transact any size without being subject to any taxation. The Robin Hood Tax supporters believe this is a failure to solve.
"The financial system has become too large, complex and hyperactive in relation to the social function," says Carlos Arenillas, former vice president of the CNMV. The volume of financial transactions has grown from 25 times world GDP in the mid-nineties, today represent 70 times the wealth of the planet. Arenillas believes that imposing this would achieve two purposes: to reduce more speculative transactions, as those investors spit-robots by thousands every second, and provide revenue to the government accounts.
Equilibria Arenillas chairs, a manager of hedge funds (hedge funds). In theory, these funds are very active and operate a tax would hurt business bag, but this expert is a strong supporter of the initiative. "Ideally, this rate is applied in the most comprehensive possible. Despite the lack of agreement in the G-20 does not think it's a bad time to apply in Europe. If only we trust in the financial sector, its powerful lobby always going to say that's not the best time, "he stresses.
The task of agreeing on an overall rate of this type seems daunting. However, some countries have a dual language to that effect. In the UK, for example, there is already a small tax on financial transactions (stamp duty). In total, 29 countries have similar rates, including Brazil, China, India, Ireland, Japan or Russia. Still unaware of the details of how it would promote the Tobin France and Germany for the euro zone. However, the guidelines were probably outlined the September 28, 2011 when the European Commission presented its proposal for an EU-wide tax for 2014 applicable to all transactions in investment instruments between financial institutions when at least one of the two party had its headquarters in the EU. Affect 85% of transactions between institutions, while citizens would not be subject to the fee, since the tax would be exempt products and services such as mortgages, bank loans, insurance "and other normal financial activities carried out by individuals and small businesses. "
Trading volume is 70 times the wealth of the planet
The trading of stocks and bonds would be taxed at a rate of 0.1% on trading volume, while the rate for products would be 0.01%. This means that if a bank sells shares in a hedge fund of 100,000 euros each should pay 100 euros in taxes for the operation, while if a producer of goods acquired a future worth 100,000 euros to hedge against the vagaries currency would cost 10 euros.
The Commission estimates indicate that this would raise 57,000 million annually. The presiding Executive Barroso said at the time that the rate of this type has the support of 65% of citizens, according to Eurobarometer, and that the proceeds would be shared between the EU and member countries. "The decision to propose this tax is based on two reasons. First, ensure that the financial sector contributes at a time of fiscal consolidation. Second, create a more coordinated in taxation within the EU would strengthen the EU single market ", according to Brussels.
Facing revenue forecasts of the Commission, other studies indicate that imposing a tax on stock exchange transactions would have a negative impact on the economy much more. In early January, for example, Ernst & Young (E & Y) said it could leave a hole of 116,000 million euros. Its experts believe Brussels forecasts are too optimistic and do not take into account the expected drop in the volume of trading that would have a tax of this type, in addition to the drop in revenue from other taxes due to lower activity in the financial area.
"The initiative is led by Sarkozy smoke with straw, a way to divert attention from the mismanagement of the crisis in Europe and a lure for the next election presidential election," reflects Antón Costas, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Barcelona . "I am in favor of giving more stability to the financial system, but I'm not sure the best way to do it is through a new tax. To achieve this stability is more effective to promote better regulation. A tax, in the end, is nothing more than a way to raise money, "says Costas.
Ideas Foundation, next to the Socialist Party, published in May 2010 study Taxing financial speculation, which supports the creation of tax institutions and financial markets. The potential revenue capacity in Spain, the report would be between 180 and 1,980 million in taxes on short-term financial gains, between 2820 and 5120 million in taxes on bank assets, and between 1,600 and 6,300 million in the case of transactions financial.
According to the European Commission, would raise annual 57,000 million
"This rate would lower the volatility of the markets. The value of financial transactions has skyrocketed. There are many operations that are not linked with the productive economy and should be reduced, "said Carlos Mulas, director general of the Ideas Foundation. Share the idea that such a tax should apply as comprehensive as possible, but not afraid to be applied only in the euro zone. "The Capitals are not going to a site just for taxes. They also value other things like safety and attractiveness of economies. If London does not join the project so there will be more competition is with other financial centers such as Frankfurt. And, for certain operations, many investors opt for the eurozone to avoid exchange rate risk. "
In 2001, shortly before his death, James Tobin gave an interview to Der Spiegel. He complained that the anti-globalization movement had abused its name by appropriating in their struggle against capitalism rate he had proposed to balance the currency market. "I am an economist and, like most economists, free trade advocate. I am also in favor of the IMF and World Bank. " When the reporter asked if the rate would be true someday, Tobin was categorical: "There is no chance, I'm afraid. People who decide in the international financial world are against. " The current crisis has broken many dogmas. Will the implementation of this utopian yet another rate them?
Hired guns on the floor
In 2005, HFT accounted for less than a fifth of the market trading U.S. equity volume. In 2010 and accounted for 56%, according to consultancy Tabb Group. In Europe, the rise is also frenzied presumably have passed an insignificant star in the market to 35% of operations.
The machines are only interested in speed. The benefit goes to the fastest, previously triggered. In each operation not aspire to earn large sums. Complies with 0.001 euros per move. But if their programs are right and are able to identify before other inefficiencies in the formation of asset prices or patterns that recur in the markets can earn hundreds of millions, as they perform thousands of operations in each session. HFT advocates argue that serves to improve the liquidity of the stock, its critics point out that abuse of these operations is behind the high market volatility. A tax would have the same effect as putting a radar on every kilometer of a Formula 1 circuit.
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