Jersey shows how small jurisdictions can punch above their weight

Too often dismissed as a tax dodge, the island is in fact setting higher standards than many larger countries

Sir,

Your interview with Jersey’s Chief Minister (Summer 2025 edition, p.36 and online here) was excellent. Too often small jurisdictions are dismissed as “tax havens”, when in fact places like Jersey are setting higher standards of governance than many larger countries. The MONEYVAL recognition proves the point: if global watchdogs put Jersey at the top for fighting financial crime, then critics need to update their prejudices.

I also think the Chief Minister was right to stress lifestyle. For firms moving staff, quality of life matters just as much as tax rates. People are more productive when they aren’t stuck on two-hour commutes, and being able to leave the office and be at the beach in minutes is a selling point many major cities can’t match.

In Europe we talk a lot about agility and innovation, but Jersey seems to be living it. The combination of scale, connectivity, and regulatory credibility is unusual. Far from being a backwater, Jersey looks like a model that others could learn from.

Yours faithfully,
Dr Thomas Keller, Frankfurt, Germany