Karl Matikonis – The Conversation

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January 23, 2026

Stealth tax rises are on the horizon for Scotland ahead of its election

Karl Matikonis, University College Dublin

Many workers in Scotland – not just its top earners – are going to be paying more tax soon.

proslgn/Shutterstock

January 5, 2026

Karl Matikonis, University College Dublin

Preferential treatment for the self-employed is a luxury the country can no longer afford.

A ship that will store and offload oil produced by the newly approved Rosebank field in the North Sea. Ithaca Energy/EPE-EFE

October 4, 2023

Karl Matikonis, University College Dublin

Even with a 75% tax, energy companies can claim tax reliefs on UK projects.

UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt outside 11 Downing Street in London before presenting the latest government budget to Parliament. Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE

March 15, 2023

Phil Tomlinson, University of Bath; Alan Shipman, The Open University; Andrew Burlinson, University of East Anglia; Catherine Waddams, University of East Anglia; Despina Alexiadou, University of Strathclyde ; Gavin Midgley, University of Surrey; Jim Watson, UCL; Karen Bloor, University of York; Karl Matikonis, Queen's University Belfast, and Steven McCabe, Birmingham City University

Childcare, pensions and support for energy bills are among the main budget plans for the UK government.

The UK has increased its windfall tax on profits from oil and gas extraction. CloudVisual/Shutterstock

February 8, 2023

Karl Matikonis, Queen's University Belfast

The UK windfall tax has barely made a dent in surging energy profits this year.