scholarly journals Global Illicit Financial Flows: Where does Dirty Money from Developing Countries become legal?

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-150
Author(s):  
Wahaj Ahmed Khan ◽  
Syed Tehseen Jawaid ◽  
„ Muhammad Asif Shamim

The study determines most favorite destinations for money laundering preferred by wrong doers from 25 developing nations selected on the basis of highest illegal financial fund outflows from 2004 to 2014, a report published by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) in 2015. Firstly, it has been discussed that how money laundering activities are shackling the economic and financial stability in a country by distorting and damaging different sectors of economy as well as financial sector. Walker's Gravity Model has used to determine the most preferred destinations for money laundering. Research indicates that most developed and stable economies with lax controls are preferred by criminals. Robustness has been checked through triangulation method. It is recommended that uniform controls at global level are essential to eliminate havens and the need of international body which shall be responsible for policy making and enforcement of strong regulations is also highlighted.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Sotande

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the treats hindering war against illicit financial flows of organised crime in developing economies and Nigeria in particular. The examination shows that the impediments facing the fight against money laundering and organised crime financial flows vary from one country to another. It may be lesser in developed economies where most instruments, treaties and best practice recommendations to curb serious crime originated from. However, the impediments against the proceeds of organised crime in developing economies are overwhelming. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology adopted was qualitative analysis. This was applied through the use and analysis of documents and expert interviews. Findings The impediments jeopardising the success against organised crime and other related serious crime financial flows in developing economies are devastating. Consequently, the study offered some policy implications to help mitigate these impediments in developing countries. The dynamics and the phenomena of organised crime business model are operated with ingenious strategies within the global states. Therefore, staying in control of the menace and the threats originated from the organised criminal activities would require periodic review of the global initiatives, standards and strategies deployed by the standard setters to combat organised crime and its financial flows in developing and evolving economies. Additionally, the implementing countries should be carried along and allow to make inputs when such initiatives and standards are being developed. Social implications In Nigeria, there is a clear evidence of “collateral damage” in terms of social justice as result of financial exclusion of many bankable adults of the country that do not possess unique identities for account opening documentation and customer due diligence of the Financial Action Task Force recommendation 10. Originality/value There have been quite a number of studies on organised crime and still fewer have recognised the need to explore the success or failure of combating the proceeds of crime in developing economies. This study provides answer to these gaps by screening associated risks of fighting the proceeds of organised crime in developing countries and Nigeria in particular.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miloš Grujić ◽  
Mile Šikman

Money laundering, in its almost 90-year-long history, has attracted the attention of the scientific, professional, but also the general public. Throughout the entire period, the manifestations of this criminal phenomenon, its typology, etiological factors, etc., have changed, but the essence has remained the same: the transformation of illegally acquired money into legal financial flows. Emerging markets are particularly burdened, which is the subject of this paper: identifying, monitoring and proving the process of money laundering with the aim to reduce it in developing countries. In addition, what can be observed in these markets is that money laundering operations are mainly related to those activities where most of the payments are made in cash. Their specificity, that is, the basic motive for execution, is not just a profit, but the aspiration to introduce “dirty” money into legal flows. The aim of this paper is to use the method of description to explain and describe scientifically the money laundering process and to combat this phenomenon with a focus on the characteristics of the money laundering process. In addition, the paper describes the models and weaknesses of this process, while at the same time it respects the standards and specifics of business operations in emerging markets. The result of the paper is that it provides an overview of money laundering in the 21st century in small and open economies, including proposals to prevent and combat this negative phenomenon.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1074-1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Otto Schlenther

Purpose This paper aims to identify the underlying key components of illicit financial flows (IFFs) and highlights the priority areas where government resources should be pooled under a whole of government approach to mitigate the risks posed by IFFs. These areas are tax avoidance and tax evasion (specifically intra-company profit shifting, investment and profit shifting within the extractive sector, fraud and beneficial ownership), anti-corruption measures, governance and accountability measures, anti-money laundering effectiveness and effectiveness in the detection of falsified customs declarations. Design/methodology/approach The concept of IFFs is emerging as an umbrella term for bringing together seemingly disconnected issues. The concept is ill-defined, but there are various identifiable components supporting the term IFF such as capital flight, corruption, money laundering, tax avoidance, tax havens and transfer pricing practices. The author identifies the key areas of concern through a literature review and recommends prioritization of short- to medium-term risk areas and long-term policy imperatives. Findings In the short- to medium-term, an effective “whole-of-government” approach should be based on uniform risk identification and prioritization between mandated government agencies and in the long run, it should be focused on building responsive and effective institutions through a process of good governance and effective taxation. Originality/value A large body of literature deals with “IFFs” and the “whole-of-government approach” as separate concepts. This paper draws on the existing literature and identifies priority areas for addressing IFFs, and, for these to be successful, they are entirely dependent on a whole-of-government approach – both in the short and long run.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 584-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Sotande

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the magnitude of the global problem of money laundering and the scholarly critics of money laundering concept. The paper further explores the scientific modelling to combat money laundering transactions.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology adopted was qualitative analysis. This was applied through the use and analysis of documents and expert interviews.FindingsThe paper reveals how the global displacement on the fight against money laundering is being determined by “attractiveness index”. This attractiveness index is the dark side affecting anti-money laundering (AML) concept within developing economies. The critics of the AML accounts for major discrepancies associated with the context of the term AML regimes and international standards to combat illicit financial flows.Social implicationsThe regimes against money laundering compel countries to adopt the same recommendations and standards and were not given opportunity to proffer their own creative alternatives within their own circumstances.Originality/valueThe paper suggests AML Transaction Validation Model in the quest to combat illicit financial flows originated from organized and serious crime within the global jurisdictions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-224
Author(s):  
Tara Prasad Bhusal

In recent years, considerable intellectual interest has arisen over the extent of illicit financial flows which may have development, governance or other consequences for both developed and developing countries. Illicit financial flows involve the cross-border transfer of the proceeds of corruption, trade in contraband goods, criminal activities, and tax evasion. The main objective of this article is to explore the current situation of illicit financial flows from the developing countries with special reference to south Asia and Nepal. The article also explains its causes, impact and measures to stem those flows. Although much effort and resources have been used to stem the illicit financial flows in the world, it is in increasing trend specially in case of developing world.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ahmad Naheem

Purpose This paper provides examples of how illicit financial flows (IFFs) are occurring through the formal banking and financial services sector. The purpose of this paper is to explore which elements of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance need to be addressed to strengthen the banking response and reduce the impact of IFFs within the banking sector. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a number of sources of secondary data including the Swiss leaks data for HSBC and also the Permanent Sub Committee Report on HBUS in the USA, the OECD report on money laundering compliance and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines on beneficial ownership. It links this information to the relevant IFF reports produced through Global Financial Integrity to highlight the connection between banking AML compliance and IFF transfers through the banking sector. Findings The main findings from the analysis are that banks have a greater legal responsibility towards detecting and reporting suspicious transactions than they would have previously considered. This includes identifying the source and purpose of fund transfers and establishing the beneficial ownership of recipients. Research limitations/implications The research topic is new; therefore, analysis papers and other academic writing on this topic are limited. Practical implications The research paper has identified a number of implications to the banking sector on addressing AML deficiencies, especially the need to improve standards of beneficial ownership verification and customer due diligence (CDD) checks for politically exposed persons. Social implications This paper has implications for the international development and the global banking sector. It will also influence approaches to AML regulation, risk assessment and audit within the broader financial services sector. Originality/value The originality of this paper is the link between the HSBC cases and IFFs and the implications this will have for future AML compliance processes across the banking sector.


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