I don't know if it is a fully global phenomenon, but it is certainly not a US-Centric one. For every politician who is in the news for 'bragging' about not pay

I don't know if it is a fully global phenomenon, but it is certainly not a US-Centric one. For every politician who is in the news for 'bragging' about not paying taxes, there's usually at least one politician finger-wagging at them that avoids taxes to the same extent, but is just 'quiet' about it. People who are decrying cheating while cheating themselves are a far larger problem; when someone boasts they don't pay taxes, everyone else can point at them and go 'what an asshole!'. But when people discover someone doesn't pay taxes, yet goes after those who are public about not doing so, -that- is when the idea that 'everybody cheats'. becomes cemented.