The International Tax Regime Complex: Understanding Change in Global Tax Governance

Following a landmark vote in the UN General Assembly in December 2023, negotiations are under way to establish a UN Framework Convention on tax. While the UN already plays a role in international tax cooperation, this convention’s scope extends beyond its existing mandate and into policy areas where the OECD has historically held sway. This introduces potential risks, including duplication of effort and competition between institutions, and incoherence in international tax policy. However, it is not certain that these risks will materialise. The ultimate outcome will depend on interactions between states and institutions, and between institutions themselves. We use insights from international relations scholarship to explore the main drivers, enablers and constraints on changes to the status quo.