Sarah Anderson

Americans are used to paying sales taxes on basic goods and services. But when a Wall Street trader buys millions of dollars’ worth of stocks or derivatives, there’s no tax.

Like a savvy bargainer on a used car lot, big multinational corporations have mastered the art of feigning indifference and walking away.

Purveyors of Ferraris and high-end Swiss watches keep their fingers crossed toward the end of each calendar year, hoping that the big Wall Street banks will be generous with their annual cash bonuses.

Americans are used to paying sales taxes on basic goods and services. But when a Wall Street trader buys millions of dollars’ worth of stocks or derivatives, there’s no tax.

Like a savvy bargainer on a used car lot, big multinational corporations have mastered the art of feigning indifference and walking away.

Purveyors of Ferraris and high-end Swiss watches keep their fingers crossed toward the end of each calendar year, hoping that the big Wall Street banks will be generous with their annual cash bonuses.