An op-ed in today’s New York Times argues that other countries should stop attacking the Swiss financial privacy laws that “are a foundation for individual dignity and basic property rights.” Governments around the world see Swiss banks as havens for tax evasion.
The author, Pierre Bessard, is the president of a classical liberal think tank called the Liberales Institut. He discusses some deep-seated differences in how the Swiss see taxation relative to citizens of other countries:
This Swiss peculiarity of considering tax evasion as a mere administrative offense has a long history. We think government exists to serve us, not the other way around. We understand that we have to pay taxes ? and we do, with numerous studies showing that the Swiss are extraordinarily honest about paying what we owe ? but we do not think it is the government?s role to intrude on our privacy and wrench them from us.
Pierre also mentions the Swiss practice of referendums on all tax increases. Its nice to see the New York Times publish a piece in favor of property rights.
