#evenitup

There have been a plethora of books and blogs about simplifying recently. Simplify your life, your routine; your kitchen and every other area of your life.

There is something to be said about our attraction to these types of blog posts which promises “20 hacks” to make mornings faster. Our lives are packed with meetings and activities and we are striving to be the busiest person, the one with the most things to do. However, in all of this we are longing for moments of peace in which we can simply breathe and enjoy the benefits of our business.

This trend to simplification has not only affected interior design and lifestyle magazines. It is also all over the design community, from graphic design to advertising. In a world where everything and nothing is competing for our attention, the simplest will win. We do not have time to read lengthy ads or to take long to listen to a packed video. This lead to the rise of the infographic. Now every company, every start-up, blogger will want to have their infographic that captures their “essence” in a simple and memorable way.

’TL;DR’ or ‘Too Long; Didn’t Read’, might be another emblem of our online generations”

Everyone wants to have their say but no one wants to say less. As a designer and communicator, your job is to somehow bring the 3-page company mission and vision paper into a visual one pager. You are also expected not to cut down any information. Not a coma can be missing. This might be an extreme example and exaggeration though honestly looking at what most see as the bare minimum to be kept, is far from easily possible.

In the spirit of this article let me finally and simply get to the point: “It is sometimes better to have one powerful point then 20 weak ones.”

There is no need to be afraid you can’t present all the data. No need to try scramble weeks of research into one single page. Today the need for elevator pitches and simplicity is bigger than ever.

"This visual is a representation of the American strategy in Afghanistan in 2010. It helps in only explaining that the situation is complex, more than explaining the situation itself. Some things are not meant to be visually explained; and that's ok." 

As a young girl, I never understood why people were so concerned with gender equality. Born and raised in the save haven of the Netherlands, it seemed as if I had the same chances as bys. I never saw my gender as a burden, never had the feeling that it was hindering me from reaching my goals. Growing up, I learned that just because I did not see inequality at that particular time, it did not mean that it did not and does not exist. On the contrary: equality is definitely not for all.

The recently launched Oxfam Report ‘An economy that works for women’ revealed that one in five men in developing countries disagreed that women should have work outside the home even if they are qualified (Oxfam, 2017). Gender equality is not something that is self-evident. Women do more unpaid care work than men: the burden of domestic work often still falls on the women. The stereotype of the women as caregiver persists, even today. The current economic system facilitates this inequality as economic policies impact women differently than men, especially in developing countries (Oxfam, 2017).

Fiscal policy and gender inequality

‘The heaviest burden should rest on the strongest shoulders’, is a phrase that is often when discussing equality and tax systems.  Progressive tax policies ensure that those who can afford it spend more on public services so that that everyone can reap the benefits of this social security system. From education to health care; a progressive tax systems facilitates equality by enabling all citizens to have access to these basic public services. Fiscal policy can thus be a tool used to battle gender and economic inequality (Oxfam. 2017). However, in our current economic system, governments often fail to do so. Tax incentives, such as free trade zones and tax exemptions only benefit the rich of our society. And the majority of the rich are men.

“Poverty is sexist and so is the distribution of extreme wealth” (Global Alliance for Tax Justice, 2017)

Who pays the price

Governments turning a blind eye to tax avoidance and evasion indirectly facilitate gender inequality. Tax avoidance by multinational organizations hit developing countries the hardest: they cost them over hundred billion US dollars every year (Oxfam. 2017).  This lack of tax revenues leaves governments with no choice but to cut on public services. Women take over the duties of the state, for instance taking over the burden of care, which leaves them with little or no time for education or paid work. Moreover, the state does not have the funds to invest in the protection of women and their rights, healthcare and education while these investments are desperately needed in order to create a more equal society (Oxfam. 2017).  

The role of our government

This explanation about gender inequality in developing countries might have left you wondering what role we play in this story.  Why should we care about tax policies and gender equality in developing countries? The Netherlands is amongst the world’s worst tax havens. The Dutch government has fostered an environment that allows multinationals to avoid paying taxes; depriving developing countries of the billions that they need to tackle inequality.

So, during the upcoming Women’s Day on March 8, but also beyond: raise your voice and demand your government to put an end to tax avoidance and evasion. Call for equality: equality for all.

References

Global Alliance for Tax Justice. Factsheet : 7 Reasons Why We Need  #TaxJustice for Women’s Rights. Retrieved from http://www.globaltaxjustice.org/sites/default/files/TaxJustice%20for%20Women%27s%20Rights%20FACTSHEET.pdf

Oxfam (2017). An economy that works for women. Oxfam briefing paper.  Retrieved from https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/file_attachments/bp-an-economy-that-works-for-women-020317-en.pdf

Recently, Oxfam launched a report that stated that The Netherlands is the #3 of world’s worst corporate tax havens. And with this in mind a debate was held on Thursday, January 12 which discussed this issue. The debate offered experts and stakeholders a platform to discuss their point of views.

Is the Netherlands a tax haven? According to the majority of the panelists The Netherlands is indeed a tax haven. One of the arguments given was that the Netherlands is not transparent in informing the public. All tax dealings happen behind closed doors. However, The Netherlands is transparent about their tax policies which are facilitating corporate tax avoidance.

 The gloom and doom

The gloom and doom of Globalisation, America, Neoliberalism, etc. During the debate one of the panelists mentioned these keywords to describe their effect on the Netherlands as a tax haven. He said that they are the reason why The Netherlands is considered a tax haven. However this argumentation is weak and was quickly overruled by other panelist saying that it is the Dutch policies that facilitate these practices and that by changing the policies and being transparent The Netherlands can reduce its role in facilitating corporate tax avoidance.

“The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King

Human vs. Tax consultant

One of the panelists was asked whether he always supports his actions as a tax consultant. What might be beneficial for a corporation, might be disastrous for society. Do we need whistleblowers to figure out what practices are conducted by our government? No, we need tax consultant to practice with their conscience. And as Martin Luther King said; “The time is always right to do what is right”.

The economy of the 99%

 Tax avoidance has affected individuals, societies and governments in many developing countries. Take Jane Muthoni, a Kenyan lady, who worked as a maid in homes of the rich in the capital Nairobi. Jane and others in the Kenyan society are having difficulties breaking the cycle of their environment. Occasionally they do not have access to basic human needs, e.g. to water. Giving the fact that many corporations avoid paying taxes in developing countries, these governments cannot invest in education, health care and infrastructure as much as they need to. Overall this leads to increase of the global inequality.