All posts by Gavin O’Toole

About Gavin O’Toole

Gavin O’Toole is a freelance writer and editor in London. He has written for leading newspapers, magazines, wire services and business schools about financial markets, business and regulation around the world. He has a particular interest in international relations, and a specialism in Latin American affairs. He has conducted research on this region’s political economy and has also published a number of books about its politics and natural environment. His latest title, Environmental Security in Latin America, will be published by Routledge in September 2017.
  • Getting off the Fens: the global journey of Social Impact Bonds

    Born as a pilot scheme in the Fens of East England, Social Impact Bonds have since been deployed in dozens of countries around the world – bringing together private finance,

    • Posted April 11, 2019
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  • Guarding the public finances: the power of fiscal rules

    When politicians are feeling virtuous, they introduce fiscal rules. When they succumb to temptation, they break them – and the public suffers the consequences. Gavin O’Toole explores their power and

    • Posted March 14, 2019
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  • Taxing the digital economy: the struggle for real cash in a virtual world

    Government tax bases are shrinking as digital services and global businesses expand, but there’s little global consensus on how to protect public revenues. Gavin O’Toole explains the problem – and

    • Posted December 13, 2018
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  • India peers into its digital future

    This week, India’s Supreme Court allowed the country’s ambitious Aadhaar ID scheme to proceed, whilst setting down rules to protect people’s rights and privacy. Gavin O’Toole finds that the ruling

    • Posted September 27, 2018
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  • Whole in one: the rise and rise of one-stop shops

    Rising on the back of interdepartmental integration and digital services, ‘one-stop shops’ are growing in popularity around the world. Gavin O’Toole tracks the expansion of integrated service delivery counters, and

    • Posted September 5, 2018
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  • Reversing the flow: tempting emigrants back home

    Mass migration isn’t only a problem for destination countries; those losing swathes of young, ambitious people can suffer too. Gavin O’Toole explains how Mexico, Mali, Latvia and Ireland are working

    • Posted May 2, 2018
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  • Repainting Havana

    The Cuban economy, like the country’s capital city, is in urgent need of a thorough refurbishment. And this week, the national assembly will elect a new leader – ending the

    • Posted April 18, 2018
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  • The coming generation of tax vehicles

    Taxation can be a powerful policy instrument, influencing social as well as economic change. And as Gavin O’Toole finds, a growing number of governments are using fiscal tools to shape

    • Posted March 19, 2018
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  • Building better public-private partnerships

    Since entering the mainstream as the UK’s Private Finance Initiative, public-private partnerships have had a mixed track record – and this week’s collapse of PFI construction firm Carillion has further

    • Posted January 15, 2018
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  • A renaissance for development banks

    Since the credit crunch, many private banks have retreated from lending to key economic sectors. So governments are stepping in – creating development banks to support start-ups and the industries

    • Posted January 8, 2018
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