Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Tim Worstall, in Forbes, points us to this article in the Irish Times:
THE FINNISH company that created the hugely successful Angry Birds mobile phone game is considering moving its headquarters to Ireland, chief executive Mikael Hed has said.
The mobile phone game has been downloaded by more than a billion users around the world and its owner, the Rovio group, is developing a broad-based entertainment business on the income from the brand.
I wonder why they're thinking about this. Oh, right:
The corporation tax rate in Finland is 24.5 per cent, while Ireland’s rate is 12.5 per cent. Most of the world’s fast-growing technology companies, such as Google and Facebook, have set up European headquarter operations in Dublin so as to benefit from Ireland’s low corporation tax rate.
For the record, the US corporate tax rate is considerably higher than either Ireland or Finland. from CNN.com:
On Sunday, the United States gets a distinction no nation wants -- the world's highest corporate tax rate.
Japan, which currently has the highest rate in the world -- a 39.8% rate on business income between national and local taxes -- cuts its rate to 36.8% as of April 1. The U.S. rate stands at 39.2% when both federal and state rates are included.
Businesses fly to lower taxes. Why is this still a controversial statement?
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Comments:
Jul '11
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Quick, someone tell Paul Krugman. He is still a little fuzzy on the what happens when taxes are raised....
Apr '12
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
If money can move to a better spot, it will, and eventually all money can move.
Jun '10
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Ireland already has another big advantage. They speak (they sort of do) Everybody-in-the-World's second language--English. That was our big advantage too, till we squandered most of it with high taxes and over-regulation.
Mar '11
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Those sound like the racist codewords of a man with no socks on.
Feb '10
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
I know Amazon has their European datacenter in Dublin.
It sounds like Estonia would be another good place for a business to move. Skype is headquartered there, though I believe it's an Estonian native company.
Jul '11
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Busy System Admin: I know Amazon has their European datacenter in Dublin.
It sounds like Estonia would be another good place for a business to move. Skype is headquartered there, though I believe it's an Estonian native company. · 16 minutes ago
It is - it's blocks from my house.
Estonia should have a group that campaigns for moves like this. But then again, there are dozens of app companies located in Helsinki. I didn't know that Angry Birds was one of them, and I consider myself 'informed' on new tech doings.
May '10
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
It is only controversial if you don't want to believe it.
Aug '10
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Now they'll be Drunken Angry Birds.
;-)
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Roberto
Those sound like the racist codewords of a man with no socks on. · 3 hours ago
You nailed me.
Mar '11
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Rob Long
Roberto
Those sound like the racist codewords of a man with no socks on. · 3 hours ago
You nailed me. · 4 hours ago
A man without socks cannot be trusted, from there all else follows.
I heard a rumor once Bush had no socks on while watching football. It's a straight line from Bush to Hitler to Long!
Just send a $1,000,000 dollar check to Sharpton at your earliest convenience. All shall be forgiven.
Aug '10
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
To borrow a truism about another form of government intervention:
Capital treats taxation as damage, and routes around it.
Jul '11
Re: Angry Birds Fly to Lower Taxes
Rovio has denied that they are moving to Ireland, and did so just after the Irish Times article came out. So, the example doesn't match the thesis, so far.