How Can Regional Cooperation Help the Enhancement of Regional Economic Development and Strengthen the Voices of Developing Countries in Global Tax Negotiations?

Abstract

Abstract The aims of this article are two-fold. First to provide a mapping of the regional initiatives and organizations and their link to regional tax cooperation and development. Second, to analyse how the existing regional cooperation initiatives and organizations can help to enhance regional economic development and to strengthen the voices of developing countries in international tax negotiations. This article concludes that the proliferation of memberships and organizations may be an obstacle to achieve regional economic development. Countries may want to participate in several agreements which may have the same or similar objectives, and in some cases, to withdraw from one or another, in order to focus on another agreement. The mapping of regional initiatives shows that more coordination is needed in order to strengthen the role of the regions in global tax negotiations not only at the BEPS Inclusive Framework but also at the United Nations level.