The response of firms to eligibility thresholds: Evidence from the Japanese value-added tax
Abstract
It is common to define benefit eligibility for small business policies by restrictions on the firm size. This paper documents the effects of the value-added tax (VAT) threshold in Japan, focusing on the incentives for a large firm to "masquerade" as many small firms by separately incorporating business segments. A comparison of the corporate size distributions before and after the VAT introduction of 1989 shows a clustering of corporations just below the threshold--a pattern that is attributable to the behavioral responses. To rule out the confounding influences of the changes in the company attributes over the years, we applied a semiparametric density decomposition technique developed by DiNardo, Fortin, and Lemieux (DiNardo J., Fortin N.M., Lemieux T., Labor market institutions and the distribution of wages, 1973-1992: a semiparametric approach. Econometrica 1996; 64; 1001-1044). This study suggests that the masquerading behavior by firms may be commonplace in other settings.Download Info
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Bibliographic Info
Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Journal of Public Economics.
Volume (Year): 93 (2009)
Issue (Month): 5-6 (June)
Pages: 766-775
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Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:93:y:2009:i:5-6:p:766-775
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Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/505578
For corrections or technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Jeroen Loos).
Related research
Keywords: H32 H25 L22 Tax avoidance Business group Value-added tax Firm size distribution;Other versions of this item:
- Kazuki Onji, 2008. "The Response of Firms to Eligibility Thresholds: Evidence from the Japanese Value-Added Tax," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 370, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
- Kazuki Onji, 2008. "The Response of Firms to Eligibility Thresholds : Evidence from the Japanese Value-Added Tax," Finance Working Papers 21965, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
- H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
- H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
- L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
References
References listed on IDEASPlease report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Roberto Torrini & Fabiano Schivardi, 2004.
"Threshold effects and firm size: The case of firing costs,"
2004 Meeting Papers
445, Society for Economic Dynamics.
- Fabiano Schivardi & Roberto Torrini, 2004. "Threshold Effects and Firm Size: the Case of Firing Costs," CEP Discussion Papers dp0633, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
- Stephens, Melvin Jr & Ward-Batts, Jennifer, 2004.
"The impact of separate taxation on the intra-household allocation of assets: evidence from the UK,"
Journal of Public Economics,
Elsevier, vol. 88(9-10), pages 1989-2007, August.
- Melvin Stephens Jr. & Jennifer Ward-Batts, 2001. "The Impact of Separate Taxation on the Intra-Household Allocation of Assets: Evidence from the UK," NBER Working Papers 8380, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Roger H. Gordon & Jeffrey K. MacKie-Mason, 1990. "Effects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on Corporate Financial Policy and Organizational Form," NBER Working Papers 3222, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- James R. Hines, Jr. & Eric M. Rice, 1994.
"Fiscal Paradise: Foreign Tax Havens and American Business,"
NBER Working Papers
3477, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Hines, James R, Jr & Rice, Eric M, 1994. "Fiscal Paradise: Foreign Tax Havens and American Business," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 109(1), pages 149-82, February.
- Hines, J.R. & Rice, E.M., 1990. "Fiscal Paradise: Foreign Tax Havens And American Business," Papers 56, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Discussion Paper.
Citations
Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.Cited by:
- Kazuki Onji & David Vera, 2010.
"Tax Law Asymmetries and Income Shifting: Evidence from Japanese Capital Keiretsu,"
The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy,
Berkeley Electronic Press, vol. 10(1), pages 4.
- Kazuki Onji & David Vera, 2008. "Tax Law Asymmetries and Income Shifting : Evidence From Japanese Capital Keiretsu," Finance Working Papers 21966, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
- Kazuki Onji & David Vera, 2008. "Tax Law Asymmetries and Income Shifting: Evidence From Japanese Capital Keiretsu," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 371, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
- Paul E. Carrillo & M. Shahe Emran & Anita Rivadeneira, 2011. "Do Cheaters Bunch Together? Profit Taxes, Withholding Rates and Tax Evasion," Working Papers 2011-03, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
- Taizo Motonishi, 2009. "Are the East Asian Currencies still Misaligned? An analysis based on absolute PPP-Income relationship using panel data," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 381, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
- Andrew Elek, 2008. "Immunising Future Trade Against Protectionists: Preventing the Emergence of More Sensitive Sectors," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 372, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
- Go Ito, 2010. "Beyond 'Asian Values': Rationales For Australian-Japan Cooperation In Asian Regionalism," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 389, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
- Yusaku Horichi & Jun Saito, 2009. "Rain, Elections and Money: The Impact of Voter Turnout on Distributive Policy Outcomes in Japan," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 379, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
- Kazukiyo Onishi, 2008. "Can the New Antimonopoly Act change the Japanese Business Community?," Asia Pacific Economic Papers 373, Australia-Japan Research Centre, Crawford School, Australian National University.
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