Discussion Papers

The Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ) has produced a series of discussion documents that consider policies on a range of economic issues.

We encourage study and comment on these papers, which are attached below.

Background:

The CEJ held a conference on economic matters in October 2012 at which separate breakaway groups discussed the matters affecting the economy. The areas covered by the groups were the issues within the dysfunctional taxation system, the area of banking and financial services which had caused the economic crisis and the systems of money supply and interest rates.

On the taxation system our main concern was on the principles on which the case for land value taxation (LVT) lies and the way in which LVT could be implemented. The group also discussed the work on tax evasion and avoidance on which the Tax Justice Network leads and the problems of those at the bottom of the ladder dealt with by Taxpayers Against Poverty.

The group dealing with banking and financial services discussed the way in which the banks had let society down, particularly considering the difference between retail and so-called investment banking and the importance of banks meeting the needs of industry and commerce.

The other group discussed in depth the importance of how the money supply is organised, particularly that this is done through private banks, and the concerns around the issue of compound interest.

Naturally the conference was not able to produce policies on such complex areas within the economy. As a result the CEJ decided it would be useful to develop policies on these matters. 

The people who we asked to assist in this exercise were those who had lead the debates in each discussion group on areas which are not the CEJ’s particular expertise.

As a result, we have broad policy papers, as follows: three on taxation, one on banking and three on money supply and interest rates.

The people we would like to thank for their contributions are:

On Taxation, John Christiansen of the Tax Justice Network and Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty.

On Banking and Financial Services, Greg Fisher of Synthesis and Claudius van Wyk of the Civil Society Forum.

On Money Supply and Interest Rates, Ben Dyson of Positive Money and Clive Menzies of Critical Thinking.

Of course, many on our steering group made important contributions.