This course focuses on aspects of international taxation from the viewpoint of an economist. It introduces the concept of taxation including basic accounting principles and analyses critically their significance for the different concerned parties. It explains different tax types by giving country specific examples. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the reasons for the attempts to establish an international tax system, why these attempts have failed, and what this means for international business activities. Common taxation principles applied in many countries in relation to direct and indirect taxes will be discussed as well as tax regimes that have been enacted on the level of international organisations. The problem of double taxation as well as the specifics of bilateral and multilateral tax treaties will be analysed in detail. In its last part, the course focuses on the question of how private business entities react or should react to specific tax regimes. Transfer pricing, tax evasion, and tax avoidance are examined critically as well as counter-measures taken on the domestic and the international level. The course focuses on practical tax issues as they are to be understood and applied by international business lawyers. It therefore incorporates many exercises, thus enabling students to identify tax-related issues that may become important in the context of international business transactions and to develop appropriate practical solutions. The course may be combined with an equivalent course offered in other departments at CUHK.