Germany's 'iron Lady' Challenges The Happiest Countries On Earth.
The Most Powerful Woman on earth, Angela Merke, appears to be hell bent on challenging the Happiest Countries on Earth, such as Vanuatu, Columbia, Costa Ricca and Dominica of Panama. Countries which have up to now feature high on the Happiest Planet Index.
In Aug 2008, Forbes Magazine announced their 11th annual list of the top 100 most powerful women in the world. It appears the magazine's criteria for power is based on a compound of public profile, how often the women were reported on by the paparazzi and how much financial influence the women wielded. Only 15% of women hold the top company positions. USA's largest companies have less than 3% female chief executives and only one out of six company directors are women.
It is estimated the women on the list, organize in the vicinity of $26 trillion dollars. These are women who are defined by their jobs, rather than by who they are. It is reported said that some take home an annual pay of $11 million plus
The amount of money the woman controls, job title, past career and accomplishments, are all taken into account. The magazine draws comparisons between the relevant financial realms the women operate in, so as to assess the women on an even playing field.
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, tops the list in 2008 for the third time in a row. Second was Sheila Bair, head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp
PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi came in third, gaining two positions over last year
Angela Braly head of the health insurance Well Point retained fourth position,same as last year. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State came in seventh. Ho Chin, Temasek Holdings and wife of the Prime Minister of Singapore, was no. 8, dropping from 3rd place last year. Gail Kelly, head of Australian Westpac Bank came in No. 11. Hilary Clinton, with the highest media profile, ranked 28, dropping three places from last year. Oprah Winfrey ranked 36, dropping all the way from 8th position last year. First Lady Linda Bush ranked 44.
Angela Merkel has been nicknamed the 'Iron Lady', following in the footsteps of Margaret Thatcher, the ex British Prime Minister. Merkel even has a similar agenda to Thatcher. Wu Yi, Vice Premiere of the People's Republic of China who held third place last year, is also known as the 'Iron Lady'. Wu Yi has been in the top rankings of Forbes lists, since 2004. This year she has dropped from view. Perhaps because she resigned her position in March.
Angela Merkel has been crusading to unite the governments of the world in a Tax Cartel, in order that a heavy-handed fist can be brought to bear on all tax havens. Confidential client data of alleged tax evaders, stolen from a lichtenstein bank, was purchased recently by Merkel. This has highlighted her crusade against the tax havens. It is said the Lichtenstein bank sold the data several times over, bringing the bank a tidy profit.
As tax havens play a very relevant role in driving tax rates down in high-taxed countries, Merkel's crusade could globally cost more than her crusade is worth. Without the alternative competition offered through tax havens taxes would soar unhindered.
Personal income tax was quoted in 1980 by OEDC, as averaging 67%. Now top personal taxes average only 40%. Corporate taxes have plunged from 50% in 1980 to a simple 27%.
Some claim tax havens are an open highway for money laundering, but the intensive regulations in tax havens can make money laundering impossible.
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