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Formula Apportionment and Transfer Pricing under Oligopolistic Competition

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Listed:
  • Søren Bo Nielsen
  • Pascalis Raimondos
  • Guttorm Schjelderup

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that under conditions of imperfect (oligopolistic) competition, a transition from separate accounting (SA) to formula apportionment (FA) does not eliminate the problem of profit shifting via transfer pricing. In particular, if affiliates of a multinational firm face oligopolistic competition, it is beneficial for the multinational to manipulate transfer prices for tax-saving as well as strategic reasons under both FA and SA. The analysis shows that a switch from SA rules to FA rules may actually strengthen profit shifting activities by multinationals.

Suggested Citation

  • Søren Bo Nielsen & Pascalis Raimondos & Guttorm Schjelderup, 2001. "Formula Apportionment and Transfer Pricing under Oligopolistic Competition," CESifo Working Paper Series 491, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_491
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection

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