Every year a staggering number of
unidentified shell corporations succeed in hiding perpetrators of terrorist
financing, corruption and illegal arms trades, but the degree to which firms
flout global identification standards remains unknown. Adopting a unique,
experimental methodology, Global Shell Games attempts to unveil the sordid world
of anonymous shell corporations. Posing as twenty-one different international
consultants, the authors approached nearly 4,000 services in over 180 countries
to discover just how easy it is to form an untraceable company. Combining
rigorous quantitative analysis, qualitative investigation of responses and lurid
news reports, this book makes a significant research contribution to compliance
with international law and international crime and terrorism whilst offering a
novel, new approach to the field of political science research. Global Shell
Games is an invaluable resource for scholars of international relations, and a
fascinating, accessible read for anyone interested in learning about worldwide
criminal practice in corporate finance
