Paul Collier

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Paul Collier

Director, Centre for the Study of African Economies

Paul Collier

Sometimes it is difficult to overstate the impact of an issue. At the same time, it is not always possible to identify the people that have had the most say in making that issue one that matters. Sometimes the person in the background has the most impact.

That is something like what it was in 2013 on the issue of tax, particularly in developing countries, for Paul Collier, the director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies and professor of economics and public policy at the University of Oxford.

Well known only in academic and public policy circles before this year, it was he to whom David Cameron, also a member of this list, turned for advice when the UK prime minister determined that tax and trade would be on the agenda of the G8 heads of government summit he hosted at Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June.

And Collier is well qualified to be an adviser to global politicians. Between 1998 and 2003, he took a break from academia to be director of the research development department of the World Bank and his areas of interest include governance in low-income countries, especially the political economy of democracy, economic growth in Africa, economics of civil war, aid, globalisation and poverty.

Collier was prominent in briefings after the signing of the declaration at Lough Erne that committed the leaders to establishing the automatic exchange of information between the tax authorities as the global standard.

"We will work to create a common template for multinationals to report to tax authorities where they make their profits and pay their taxes across the world," the G8 communiqué said.

Collier was quoted by journalists at the meeting as saying that the G8 was committed to “cracking open those secrecy havens” to help African and other developing nations make the most of their resources.

The professor was not solely responsible for bringing the world’s attention to the issue of how tax collection can help poor countries grow their economies. That story was being told for a few years before that. But he certainly was influential in ensuring that it was one of the biggest political and economic issues of 2013. It is a story that is unlikely to go away.

The Global Tax 50 2013

« Previous

Palaniappan Chidambaram

View the complete list

Next »

Pierre Collin and Nicolas Colin

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

Countries which care about fair taxation of tech multinationals and equitable global distribution of wealth should back the UN’s tax framework, writes economist Abdelmalek Riad
The cuts disproportionately affected staff in certain positions, the report also found; in other news, MHA announced the €24m acquisition of Baker Tilly South East Europe
The plan aims to improve the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of direct tax administration in India
Meanwhile, South Africa’s finance minister has accepted a court decision on suspending a VAT increase and US President Donald Trump mulls a 100% tariff on foreign films
Jaime Carey speaks about the benefits of his tax background, DEI values, the use of AI for a smarter legal practice, and other priorities that will define his presidency
Historically low levels of attrition over consecutive years made a ‘difficult decision’ necessary, PwC has reportedly said
WTS Global is also vetting new potential member firms in Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire and Benin, Kelly Mgbor tells ITR in an exclusive interview
The scope of qualifying pillar two tax credits could reportedly be broadened; in other news, hundreds of IRS appeals staff are to resign
For many taxpayers, the prospect of long-term certainty that a bilateral APA offers can override concerns about time, cost and confidentiality
Levine, who served under the Joe Biden administration, led the US’s negotiations on the OECD’s two-pillar solution
Gift this article