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Asymmetric Responses of the Underground Economy to Tax Changes: Evidence From New Zealand Data

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  • David E.A. Giles
  • Gugsa T. Werkneh
  • Betty J. Johnson

Abstract

This paper considers the relationship between taxes and the size of the New Zealand underground economy. Previous studies indicate that a positive relationship exists in this and certain other countries. This paper addresses the question: ‘Is the response of the underground economy to an increase in taxes the same as its response to a decrease in taxes?’ We find that although the effect on the underground economy of an upward movement in the effective tax rate is numerically greater than that of a downward tax movement, this difference is not statistically significant.

Suggested Citation

  • David E.A. Giles & Gugsa T. Werkneh & Betty J. Johnson, 2001. "Asymmetric Responses of the Underground Economy to Tax Changes: Evidence From New Zealand Data," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 77(237), pages 148-159, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:77:y:2001:i:237:p:148-159
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-4932.00010
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    1. David E. A. Giles & Betty J. Johnson, 1999. "Taxes, Risk-Aversion, and the Size of the Underground Economy: A Nonparametric Analysis With New Zealand Data," Econometrics Working Papers 9910, Department of Economics, University of Victoria.
    2. Bernasconi, Michele & Corazzini, Luca & Seri, Raffaello, 2014. "Reference dependent preferences, hedonic adaptation and tax evasion: Does the tax burden matter?," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 103-118.
    3. Wang, David Han-Min & Yu, Tiffany Hui-Kuang & Hu, Heng-Chang, 2012. "On the asymmetric relationship between the size of the underground economy and the change in effective tax rate in Taiwan," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 340-343.
    4. Paraskevi Koufopoulou & Colin C. Williams & Athanassios Vozikis & Kyriakos Souliotis & Antonios Samprakos, 2021. "Estimating Shadow Economy Size in Greece 2000 - 2018: A Flexible MIMIC Approach," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 71(3-4), pages 23-47, July-Dece.
    5. Wang, David Han-Min & Lin, Jer-Yan & Yu, Tiffany Hui-Kuang, 2006. "A MIMIC approach to modeling the underground economy in Taiwan," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 371(2), pages 536-542.
    6. Michele Bernasconi, Luca Corazzini, Raffaello Seri, 2012. "Tax Evasion: Does the Tax Burden Matter?," ISLA Working Papers 43, ISLA, Centre for research on Latin American Studies and Transition Economies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    7. Anbarci, Nejat & Gomis-Porqueras, Pedro & Marcus, Pivato, 2012. "Formal and informal markets: A strategic and evolutionary perspective," MPRA Paper 42513, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Nejat Anbarci & Pedro Gomis-Porqueras & Marcus Pivato, 2018. "Evolutionary stability of bargaining and price posting: implications for formal and informal activities," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 365-397, April.

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    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance

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