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Tax policy and the news: An empirical analysis of taxpayers’ perceptions of tax-related media coverage and its impact on tax compliance

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  • Kasper, Matthias
  • Kogler, Christoph
  • Kirchler, Erich

Abstract

Using a survey-based experiment, this paper examines how tax authorities’ attributes of trust and power, when featured in the media, impact intended tax compliance. We apply excerpts from newspaper coverage on tax issues to manipulate the trustworthiness and power of tax authorities in Austria and assess intended compliance. The experimental treatment shows significant effects on indicated trust, perceived power of tax authorities, and intended tax compliance. Moreover, we observe a strong positive effect of participants’ education on indicated trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Kasper, Matthias & Kogler, Christoph & Kirchler, Erich, 2015. "Tax policy and the news: An empirical analysis of taxpayers’ perceptions of tax-related media coverage and its impact on tax compliance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 58-63.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:54:y:2015:i:c:p:58-63
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2014.11.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Miloš Fišar & Tommaso Reggiani & Fabio Sabatini & Jiří Špalek, 2022. "Media negativity bias and tax compliance: experimental evidence," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(5), pages 1160-1212, October.
    2. Marius-Răzvan Surugiu & Cristina-Raluca Mazilescu & Camelia Surugiu, 2021. "Analysis of the Tax Compliance in the EU: VECM and SEM," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(17), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Olsen, Jerome & Kasper, Matthias & Enachescu, Janina & Benk, Serkan & Budak, Tamer & Kirchler, Erich, 2018. "Emotions and tax compliance among small business owners: An experimental survey," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 42-52.
    4. Cinzia Castiglioni & Edoardo Lozza & Eric Dijk & Wilco W. Dijk, 2019. "Two sides of the same coin? An investigation of the effects of frames on tax compliance and charitable giving," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Burgstaller, Lilith & Feld, Lars P. & Pfeil, Katharina, 2022. "Working in the shadow: Survey techniques for measuring and explaining undeclared work," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 661-671.
    6. La Ferrara, Eliana & DellaVigna, Stefano, 2015. "Economic and Social Impacts of the Media," CEPR Discussion Papers 10667, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Gangl, Katharina & van Dijk, Wilco W. & van Dijk, Eric & Hofmann, Eva, 2020. "Building versus maintaining a perceived confidence-based tax climate: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    8. Garz, Marcel & Pagels, Verena, 2018. "Cautionary tales: Celebrities, the news media, and participation in tax amnesties," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 288-300.
    9. James Alm & Lilith Burgstaller & Arrita Domi & Amanda März & Matthias Kasper, 2023. "Nudges, Boosts, and Sludge: Using New Behavioral Approaches to Improve Tax Compliance," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, September.
    10. Musharraf Rasool Cyan & Antonios M. Koumpias & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, 2016. "The Effects of Media Campaigns on Individual Attitudes towards Tax Compliance; Quasi-experimental Evidence from Survey Data in Pakistan," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1609, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    11. Hartmann, Andre J. & Gangl, Katharina & Kasper, Matthias & Kirchler, Erich & Kocher, Martin G. & Mueller, Martin & Sonntag, Axel, 2022. "The economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative effect on tax compliance: Results from a scenario study in Austria," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    12. Liu, Ning & Chen, Zhuo & Bao, Guoxian, 2021. "Role of media coverage in mitigating COVID-19 transmission: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    13. Koumpias, Antonios M. & Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge, 2019. "The impact of media campaigns on tax filing: quasi-experimental evidence from Pakistan," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 33-43.
    14. Cinzia Castiglioni & Edoardo Lozza & Albino Claudio Bosio, 2018. "Lay People Representations on the Common Good and Its Financial Provision," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(4), pages 21582440188, October.
    15. Pietro Battiston & Denvil Duncan & Simona Gamba & Alessandro Santoro, 2020. "Audit Publicity and Tax Compliance: A Natural Experiment," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 122(1), pages 81-108, January.
    16. Cyan, Musharraf R. & Koumpias, Antonios M. & Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge, 2017. "The effects of mass media campaigns on individual attitudes towards tax compliance; quasi-experimental evidence from survey data in Pakistan," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 10-22.
    17. James Alm & Matthias Kasper, 2020. "Laboratory Experiments," Working Papers 2008, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    18. Rui Bruno Santos, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis between Communication and Tax Compliance," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(6), pages 321-334, June.
    19. Gaetano Lisi, 2019. "Slippery slope framework, tax morale and tax compliance: a theoretical integration and an empirical assessment," Discussion Papers in Economic Behaviour 0219, University of Valencia, ERI-CES.
    20. Andrey L. Anisimov, 2018. "Economic Model of Tax Authorities’ Costs Optimisation and Tax Revenue Receipt," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 19(5), pages 59-71, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax compliance; Trust; Power; Slippery slope framework; Tax policy; Media coverage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance

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