A financial transaction tax for securities and derivatives transactions would be unsuccessful and end up damaging the financial landscape, according to panellists at the Swiss Futures and Options Association's 33rd Bürgenstock meeting in Interlaken, last week.
“I don’t think it will work. I don’t think it will bring in additional revenue and I think it will be detrimental to businesses as a whole,” said John Langton, former chief executive and secretary general at the International Securities Markets Association in Zurich. “Money is mobile, business migrates, and if you are going to make a tax, unless it has a global reach that encompasses every major financial center it isn’t going to work.”
Gary Delany, director Europe for the Options Industry Council in Kent, added that financial transaction costs are going to be passed on to customers. “That’s even before we get in to talking about the double whammy of reduced activity, reduced cost efficiency and wider spreads.”
It was noted that a financial transaction tax could reduce competition in the financial markets which would have a negative impact on liquidity. Financial players could relocate outside the tax jurisdictions, thus, avoiding the regulation. “I do not believe that the chances of raising real additional sums of capital are realistic,” added Langton.
Last September the European Commission proposed an E.U. wide financial transaction tax whereby securities transactions would be charged 0.1% on the purchase price, and derivatives transactions would be charged at a minimum of 0.01% of the notional value traded.