It has long been a paradox that the rich countries whose professional services firms are responsible for most of the world’s cross-border tax abuse also write global tax rules. That, pleasingly, may not be the case in the future. Last month, developing countries at the UN won a historic vote to set up a tax convention, over the objections from the body that wields power today – the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a club of wealthy countries, including the US, the UK and Japan. This is a long-overdue and much-needed change. Poor nations’ ability to feed, educate and provide healthcare to their people is hobbled by illicit and hidden movements of capital worth billions each year.

The vote was overwhelming. More than 120 mostly developing countries, representing 80% of the world’s population, called for a “framework convention on........

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