Moneyland: Why Thieves and Crooks Now Rule the World and How to Take It Back is a non-fiction book written by Oliver Bullough. The book was published in 2018 and explores the topic of illicit financial flows, which is the movement of money from one country to another for the purpose of evading taxes or laundering money. The book examines how these flows have allowed corrupt individuals and organizations to hide their wealth and how this has contributed to global inequality.
The book is divided into four parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of illicit financial flows. In Part One, Bullough explains how the global financial system is structured in a way that makes it easy for criminals to hide their money. He also discusses the role of tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions in facilitating these flows.
Part Two of the book examines the role of corruption in facilitating illicit financial flows. Bullough provides examples of corrupt officials and business leaders who have used their positions of power to enrich themselves and hide their wealth. He also discusses the role of Western companies in enabling corruption in developing countries.
In Part Three, Bullough explores the impact of illicit financial flows on developing countries. He argues that these flows have contributed to a growing divide between rich and poor countries and have undermined democracy and development in many parts of the world.
Finally, in Part Four, Bullough offers some solutions to the problem of illicit financial flows. He argues that greater transparency and accountability are needed in the global financial system and that governments must do more to combat corruption and tax evasion.
Overall, Moneyland is a thought-provoking and informative book that sheds light on a topic that is often overlooked. Bullough’s writing is clear and engaging, and he provides a wealth of evidence to support his arguments. Whether you are interested in economics, politics, or simply curious about how the world works, Moneyland is a must-read.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: The Rules of Moneyland
In this chapter, Bullough introduces the concept of Moneyland and explains how it works. He argues that Moneyland is a parallel universe to the real world, where money is moved around the globe using a complex network of offshore companies, trusts, and other financial instruments. Bullough also discusses the role of tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions in facilitating these flows.
Chapter 2: The Corruption Game
In this chapter, Bullough examines the role of corruption in facilitating illicit financial flows. He provides examples of corrupt officials and business leaders who have used their positions of power to enrich themselves and hide their wealth. Bullough also discusses the role of Western companies in enabling corruption in developing countries.
Chapter 3: The Developing World
In this chapter, Bullough explores the impact of illicit financial flows on developing countries. He argues that these flows have contributed to a growing divide between rich and poor countries and have undermined democracy and development in many parts of the world.
Chapter 4: The Solution
In this chapter, Bullough offers some solutions to the problem of illicit financial flows. He argues that greater transparency and accountability are needed in the global financial system and that governments must do more to combat corruption and tax evasion.
Conclusion
Overall, Moneyland is a thought-provoking and informative book that sheds light on a topic that is often overlooked. Bullough’s writing is clear and engaging, and he provides a wealth of evidence to support his arguments. Whether you are interested in economics, politics, or simply curious about how the world works, Moneyland is a must-read. The book is a call to action for governments, businesses, and individuals to take steps to address the problem of illicit financial flows and to promote greater transparency and accountability in the global financial system. By doing so, we can help to level the playing field and create a more just and equitable world for all.
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