Monday 18th of March the 3rd Making Transparency Possible conference – Interdisciplinary dialogues was held at the OsloMet. The conference gather academics, investigative journalists, Tax Directors and others to a dialog of how to make transparency possible.
Anya Schiffrin on “Investigative journalism in the extractive industriesTo tell the truth, and nothing but the truth – but not the whole truth, Joseph Stiglitz
The main focus for this year’s conference was:
“Financial Secrecy and the impact of investigative journalism and cross-border collaboration on the public understanding of illicit financial flows.”
One of the key speakers, Joseph Stiglitz from University Professor at Columbia University and winner of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, said in his key note named Secrecy, Transparency and Globalization that transparency is avoided because companies can get away with telling only one part of the truth: «To tell the truth and nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth». Tax evasion depends upon secrecy, but according to Stiglitz, solving the problem is as easy as making it. Tax havens is a construction and can be deconstructed.
What is the impact of investigative journalism on the public undestanding of illicit financial flows? Introduction and moderation by MEKK-member Kristin Orgeret. Daniela Quirós Lépiz, Burkina Faso/Costa Rica, Mwanyengwa Ndapewoshali Shapwanale, Angola/Namibia and Craig McKune, South Africa.
“What needs to be done to make transparency possible?” Introduction and moderation by Mona Thowsen. Trond Eirik Schea, Director of the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim), Hans-Christian Holte, Tax Director at the Directorate of Taxes (Skattedirektoratet), Idar Kreutzer, Director of Finance Norway (Finans Norge) and Jon Lomøy, Director at the Norwegian Organisation for International Development (Norad).
Frian Aarsnes, “What needs to be done to make transparency possible? Forensic auditing and investigative journalism”.
Book launch: Making Transparency Possible: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue
