Welcome to Tax Conference Veroareena 7.2.2025!

The progressive think tank Kalevi Sorsa Foundation organizes Tax Conference Veroareena on Friday 7 February 2025, 9.30–16.30 at Helsinki Central Library Oodi Maijansali (Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki). Coffee will be served before the event at 9.00.

Veroareena is an open annual tax policy conference for economic policy and tax specialists, policy-makers, researchers and others involved in tax policy. The event will also be streamed online. You may register through this form by 4 February. Welcome!

The event presents topical research as well as discussion and debates on tax policy. The third Veroareena will have a focus on the relationship of taxation and growth. In addition, the event will address latest international trends in tax policy. The afternoon debates will also introduce politicians.

The first sessions in both morning and afternoon will be in English and the latter in Finnish. Journalist Jari Hanska will moderate the event.

The international guest speakers in the morning session are professor of macroeconomics Sebastian Gechert from Chemnitz University of Technology and head of the Business and International Taxes Unit Pierce O’Reilly from the Tax Policy and Statistics Division of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. Professor Gechert will discuss the relationship of taxation and growth based on his research on corporate tax cuts. O’Reilly will deal with the same topic from perspective of the OECD. Associate research professor Tuomas Matikka from VATT Institute for Economic Research will give commentary remarks on the presentations based on recent Finnish research.

The keynote presentation of the afternoon session is given by tax policy and advocacy manager Tove Maria Ryding from European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad). She will discuss the increasing role of the United Nations in international tax policy as well as its impacts and opportunities for the Nordics. Senior specialist Anna Lehtimäki from the Ministry of Finance International Tax Affairs Unit will represent commentary remarks from the perspective of the ministry.

The other presentations of the day will discuss the relationship of economic growth and ecological sustainability as well as taxation of capital income in Europe based on a new report to be published early in 2025 by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS). The afternoon session will also include debates on topical tax policy themes.

Tax Conference Veroareena Programme 7.2.2025:

9.00 Coffee (served outside the conference room, left from the Maijansali room) 

9.30 Opening

Session I: Taxation and economic growth

9.35 Relationship of taxation and growth. Professor Sebastian Gechert, Chemnitz University of Technology

10.10 Commentary remarks from perspectives of the OECD and Finnish research followed by Q&A. Head of the Business and International Taxes Unit Pierce O’Reilly, Tax Policy and Statistics Division, OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. Associate Research Professor Tuomas Matikka, VATT Institute for Economic Research.

11.20 Millainen talouskasvu on ekologisesti kestävää? [What kind of economic growth is ecologically sustainable?]  Ekonomist Jussi Ahokas, BIOS Research Unit.

11.35 Commentary remarks and Q&A: kasvun ja ekologisen kestävyyden suhde [relationship of economic growth and the environment]. Chief specialist Saara Tamminen, Prime Minister’s Office.

12.00 Lunch (at own expense) 

Session 2: International tax policy at crossroads (session organized in collaboration with Foundation for European Progressive Studies)

13.00 The international tax policy players and the increasing role of the United Nations – what are the impacts and opportunities for the Nordics? Tax policy and advocacy manager Tove Maria Ryding, European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad).

13.30 Commentary remarks from perspective of Finnish Ministry of Finance followed by Q&A. Senior specialist Anna Lehtimäki, Ministry of Finance International Tax Affairs Unit.

14.00 Presentation of new publication: Pääomatulojen verotus Euroopassa – tarvitaanko uusi minimivero? [Capital income taxation in Europe – do we need a new minimum tax?] Director Lauri Finér, Kalevi Sorsa Foundation. Head of public affairs, tax specialist Niko Pankka, Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK).

14.20 Commentary remarks and Q&A. Senior Fellow Timo Viherkenttä, Aalto University.

14.45 Coffee (served outside the conference room, left from the Maijansali room) 

Session 3: Tax debates (in Finnish)

15.15–16.25 Verodebatit ja yleisökeskustelu 

Debate 1. Miten veropolitiikalla tulisi hillitä varallisuuden keskittymistä superrikkaille? [How tax policy should address the concentration of wealth to the ultra-rich?]

Policy director Quentin Parrinello from EU Tax Observatory will give a video introduction before the debate on a coordinated minimum effective taxation standard for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

• Anita Isomaa, tax director, Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK).
• Tom-Henrik Sirviö, ekonomisti, The Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) .

Debate 2. Verotus ja kasvu sekä muut veropoliitikan ajankohtaiset aiheet [Taxation and economic growth and other topical issues in tax policy]

• Joona Räsänen, MP, member of tax committee in Finnish parliament (SDP).
• Ville Valkonen, MP, chair of tax committee in Finnish parliament (NCP).

16.25–16.30 Concluding remarks 

Additional information from Kalevi Sorsa Foundation director Lauri Finér (lauri.finer@sorsafoundation.fi). Information on the previous Veroareena as well as video of the presentations are available here.

The Employee Foundation and Kuluttajaosuustoiminnan säätiö foundation (KOTS) have contributed to the funding of the conference.  The afternoon session is organized in collaboration with the Foundation for European Progressive Studies. The session is produced with the financial support of the European Parliament. However, it does not represent the views of the European Parliament.