Democracy Challenged

Democracy Challenged

Democracy Challenged is a 5 year project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) to investigate the role of legal-technical power in shaping corporate tax avoidance and the wealth inequalities that undermine democracy.

(opens in a new window)Prof Aidan Regan's ERC-funded Democracy Challenged project focuses on corporate tax avoidance as a catalyst for inequality. It employs innovative methods like forensic accounting and survey experiments. Through empirical analysis, the project shows how global capital circumvents democratic fiscal checks. Divided into four work packages, it unravels the intricate web of big tech and pharma's tax avoidance strategies. By dissecting legal-technical mechanisms and media narratives, the project aims to disrupt wealth protection strategies. 

The Geary Institute welcomed the project in 2024.