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Dividend taxes and investment efficiency: Evidence from the 2003 U.S. personal taxation reform

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  • Chay, J.B.
  • Chong, Byung-Uk
  • Im, Hyun Joong

Abstract

We examine the effect of a large dividend tax cut on corporate investment efficiency by exploiting the 2003 personal taxation reform in the U.S. as a quasi-natural experiment. Using a difference-in-differences approach based on the probability that a firm’s marginal investor was an individual investor, we show that the 2003 dividend tax cut significantly improved the investment efficiency of U.S. listed firms. However, we find no evidence that the dividend tax cut increased the level of investment of U.S. listed firms. Further, we show that the tax cut increased investment efficiency by mitigating agency problems associated with the excessive free cash flows of overinvesting firms and by relaxing the financial constraints of underinvesting firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Chay, J.B. & Chong, Byung-Uk & Im, Hyun Joong, 2023. "Dividend taxes and investment efficiency: Evidence from the 2003 U.S. personal taxation reform," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:75:y:2023:i:1:s0165410122000374
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2022.101514
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    2. Wang, Maochuan & Yan, Youliang, 2023. "Employee treatment and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dividend taxation; Investment efficiency; Financial constraints; Agency conflicts;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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