The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS) and the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT) hosted a high-level event titled “Tax Justice and Solidarity: Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Common Home” on the 13th of February 2025. This was the first time such an event about International Tax Justice was hosted at the Vatican.
The event took place at a critical moment, when the ultra-rich in power are shaping political decisions trying to undermine international cooperation for tax reform. The full program followed is available here: https://www.icrict.com/
Pope Francis, who has long championed tax justice as a moral imperative, brought together distinguished speakers including Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa; Aminata Touré, former Prime Minister of Senegal and Member of Club de Madrid; Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate and ICRICT Co-Chair; and Gabriel Zucman, ICRICT Commissioner and Director of the EU Tax Observatory.
Discussions mainly focused on the role of the taxation of multinational corporations and the super-rich in reducing inequality, combating climate change, and financing sustainable development.
On the 8th of March 2025, ICRICT’s released its latest report of International Tax and Gender [In]equality. This landmark document, signed by the 14 ICRICT Commissioners and chaired by Joseph Stiglitz and Jayati Ghosh, highlights how fiscal policies and global tax systems are far from gender neutral, and how reforming them can be a powerful tool to tackle inequality.
Key Insights:
• Tax policies shape economic justice, but current systems often exacerbate gender inequalities.
• Women, who are underrepresented in wealth and capital ownership, bear the brunt of regressive tax systems.
• Corporate tax avoidance and the under-taxation of ultra-high-net-worth individuals disproportionately benefit men, widening the gender wealth gap.
• Progressive tax reforms, including a global minimum tax on corporations and billionaires, can generate revenue to fund public services that empower women and girls.
ICRICT’s Recommendations:
1. Reform the international corporate tax system by adopting a unitary approach and a global minimum tax of 25%.
2. Tax ultra-high-net-worth individuals effectively, ensuring they pay their fair share.
3. Create a Global Asset Register to enhance transparency and combat tax evasion.
4. Reform global tax governance by embedding principles of gender equality and progressivity in the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
