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How does quasi-indexer ownership affect corporate tax planning?

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  • Chen, Shuping
  • Huang, Ying
  • Li, Ningzhong
  • Shevlin, Terry

Abstract

We study whether, and more importantly, through what mechanisms, quasi-indexers affect portfolio firms’ tax planning by employing the discontinuity in quasi-indexer ownership around the Russell 1000/2000 index cutoff. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that higher quasi-indexer ownership leads to greater tax saving. With respect to the mechanisms, we find that the greater tax saving is a result of a focus on improved overall firm performance, not a specific focus on improved tax planning. We further find that the documented tax saving effect is partially due to quasi-indexers’ influences on executive equity incentives, corporate governance, and information environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Shuping & Huang, Ying & Li, Ningzhong & Shevlin, Terry, 2019. "How does quasi-indexer ownership affect corporate tax planning?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 278-296.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:67:y:2019:i:2:p:278-296
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2018.01.001
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    10. Nesbitt, Wayne L. & Outslay, Edmund & Persson, Anh V., 2023. "A reexamination of investors' reaction to tax shelter news: Evidence from the Luxembourg tax leaks," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax planning; Quasi-indexer; Russell index assignment; Regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance

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