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Does Tax Evasion Affect Economic Crime?

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  • Amedeo Argentiero
  • Bruno Chiarini
  • Elisabetta Marzano

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of tax evasion on criminal activities in Italy. Specifically, we consider three types of crime that are related to economic determinants: property crimes (including robbery, theft and car theft), fraud and usury. We estimate a dynamic panel using annual data from the Italian provinces (NUTS-3) for the 2006-2010 period and show that tax evasion positively affects economic crimes. Notably, the elasticity of tax evasion to fraud is related to the size of the tax burden; in addition, these crimes demonstrate different levels of persistence over time, reflecting different adjustment costs. Finally, we find that property crimes, fraud and usury are not influenced by deterrence or clearing-up variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Amedeo Argentiero & Bruno Chiarini & Elisabetta Marzano, 2018. "Does Tax Evasion Affect Economic Crime?," CESifo Working Paper Series 6957, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6957
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna P. Kireenko & Ekaterina N. Nevzorova & Dmitry Yu. Fedotov, 2019. "Sector-Specific Characteristics of Tax Crime in Russia," Journal of Tax Reform, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 5(3), pages 249-264.
    2. Amedeo Argentiero & Sandro Casal & Luigi Mittone & Azzurra Morreale, 2021. "Tax evasion and inequality: some theoretical and empirical insights," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 309-320, December.
    3. Victor Barros & Joao Tovar Jalles & Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, 2023. "Drivers of the Tax Effort: Evidence from a Large Panel," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 65(1), pages 96-136, March.
    4. Raffaella Coppier & Elisabetta Michetti & Luisa Scaccia, 2022. "Industrial structure and evasion dynamics, is there any link?," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(4), pages 960-986, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    property crime; usury; fraud; tax evasion; deterrence effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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