UK’s “National Contributions Tax” Explained: Burnham-Era Reform 2026

A group of senior UK economists led by Lord O’Neill of Gatley has proposed scrapping income tax, National Insurance, and capital gains, dividend and inheritance taxes in favor of a single “national contributions” levy, alongside replacing stamp duty with a 1% property valuation charge. The plan claims it could unlock £38bn in fiscal headroom and…

UK National Contributions Tax: Burnham’s Radical Tax Plan

While most headlines about the UK’s leadership transition have focused on the political theatre — Keir Starmer’s resignation, Andy Burnham’s uncontested path to Number 10 — a genuinely radical tax proposal has been sitting in plain sight, and it deserves far more scrutiny than it’s getting. Lord Jim O’Neill of Gatley, the former Goldman Sachs…

Singapore Firms Press Ahead in US Market Despite Trump Tariffs

The phone calls from American buyers haven’t stopped. Neither have the shipments. For many Singapore-based companies with exposure to the United States, the Trump administration’s 10% baseline tariff — widely feared when it landed in April 2025 — has turned out to be, as more than one founder has privately put it, something they can…

How to Prepare a National Budget: Skills, Techniques, and the Art of Fiscal Governance

Introduction: Why Budget Preparation Matters In February 2026, fiscal debates are raging across capitals worldwide. Pakistan’s FY26 budget set a GDP growth target of 4.2% with a Rs17.57 trillion outlay while simultaneously slashing overall spending to rein in deficits. Meanwhile, the United States Congressional Budget Office warned of a projected $1.9 trillion deficit by year’s…

Singapore’s Carbon Tax Surge: Leading Asia in a Fractured Global Pricing Landscape

Singapore’s carbon tax jumps to S$45 in 2026, positioning it among Asia’s highest. Analysis of global pricing gaps, climate vulnerability, and what this means for regional leadership. The elevator ride in Marina Bay’s glittering financial district just became more expensive—not because of rising real estate, but because Singapore is making an unequivocal bet on carbon…

Federal Constitutional Court upholds Super tax

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court’s, three-judge bench this week delivered a quiet revolution. By upholding the controversial ‘Super Tax’ on the country’s wealthiest entities, the court did more than green-light a potential Rs300 billion (approximately $1.08bn) revenue haul. It etched into constitutional jurisprudence a stark boundary: fiscal policy is the exclusive domain of the…