TaxCast Norway (Pengeland in English)

How does corruption work in Russia? And can an understanding of corruption help us make sense of the war in Ukraine and how it is being conducted? In this episode, we are joined by Alyona Vadysheva, head of Transparency International Russia. Both civil society and the press working for transparency and against corruption in Russia have long been under significant pressure. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Transparency International Russia was banned, and Vadysheva now works from exile. We talk to her about war, corruption, and what it’s like to work in civil society in a country like Russia. Hosts: Jonas Veland and Kaja Guttormsgaard Sound, video, and music: Kristoffer Lislegaard

The world's wealthiest people pay very little tax. The oligarchization of the United States illustrates how the massive wealth growth of the richest individuals translates into political influence that undermines democracy. What do the incomes and fortunes of the super-rich look like, why are we unable to tax them effectively, and how can we solve this issue? These questions are central to this episode of Pengeland, where we are joined by a true superstar in the world of taxation. Gabriel Zucman, an economics professor affiliated with the Paris School of Economics and the University of California, is also the director of the EU Tax Observatory. Over the past year, he has gained significant attention for his proposal on taxing the super-rich: a global minimum tax of two percent on their wealth. Hosts: Jonas Veland and Kaja Guttormsgaard Audio, video and music: Kristoffer Lislegaard

The U.S. gains a new old president. How will this impact the global tax regime, the fight against hidden ownership, and, not least, trust in institutions and democracy? We discuss what the Trump administration did regarding taxation and transparency during its first term and how these issues have evolved since. Looking ahead, we explore what the tax landscape might look like under Trump 2.0. Joining us is Zorka Milin from FACT Coalition—an American umbrella organization advocating for tax justice and transparency. Zorka guides us through U.S. economic policies from 2017 to 2029 and delivers some thought-provoking insights. Not everything is as bleak as one might think! Hosts: Jonas Veland and Kaja Guttormsgaard Audio, video and music: Kristoffer Lislegaard

Every year, the world loses 311 billion dollars to tax avoidance by large corporations. Australia has taken steps to address this issue, and now we hope Norway will follow suit! Tax avoidance and the use of tax havens have never been higher. However, we still have no way of seeing whether individual companies are paying sufficient taxes in the countries where they operate economically. This makes it difficult to tackle the problem. Behind the somewhat technical term "country-by-country reporting" lies an idea that could fundamentally change the international tax system. By demanding greater transparency, we can pave the way for a better method of taxing large corporations. This is currently being worked on in Australia. In this episode of Pengeland, we are joined by Jason Ward, the chief analyst at the organization CICTAR. He has been a leading figure in the effort to promote greater transparency in corporate tax payments in Australia. We talk with him about tax avoidance as a global issue, the work that has been done in Australia, and how Norway can follow suit Hosts: Jonas Veland and Kaja Guttormsgaard Guest: Jason Ward Audio, video, and music: Kristoffer Lislegaard

Can we combat poverty without economic growth? In this episode, we talk with Olivier de Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. His latest report addresses this very issue. How can we continue to fund education, health, and welfare while considering the planet's limitations? And what role will taxes and tax system reforms play in a growth-free future? Hosts: Jonas Veland and Kaja Guttormsgaard Sound, video, and music: Kristoffer Lislegaard