The Guardian: Why developing countries need to toughen up on taxes
Lilianne Ploumen, Dutch minister for foreign trade and development cooperation

“Next week, the U.N. financing conference in Addis Ababa will make decisions that will have a profound impact on the global community over the next 15 years and beyond. Tax collection in developing countries will determine whether the Sustainable Development Goals can rival the success of the Millennium Development Goals, which expire this year. … In order to be able to finance their share of the SDGs, developing countries will have to increase tax revenue collection to about 20 percent of GDP, according to the U.N. I see three main areas for action. First, ensure fair taxation. … Second, strengthen tax inspectors. … Third, broaden the tax base. … We must redouble our efforts if we want to [end] poverty. It is possible to make the billions we provide in official development assistance spark the trillions that we need in private sector resources…” (7/7).