The paper evaluates the present and future international currency status of the US dollar, the euro and the yen. In section two the functions, benefits, and costs of a leading international currency are discussed. In section three key determinants for the continuous dominance of the US dollar...

The taxation of financial services is one of the most vexing aspects of a VAT. Conceptually, VAT should apply to any fee for service but where financial services are concerned there is a difficulty in identifying the taxable amount, ie the value added by financial institutions. As a result, most...