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VAT Pass-Through: The Case of a Large and Permanent Reduction in the Market for Menstrual Hygiene Products

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Listed:
  • Alisa Frey
  • Justus Haucap

Abstract

This paper is about the price effects caused by a VAT (value-added tax) reduction for menstrual hygiene products in Germany. Several aspects make this VAT reduction particularly interesting: The exogeneity of the reduction under otherwise constant economic conditions, the reduction was substantial and permanent, demand for the products is inelastic and in many cases, pass-through rates are more than 100 percent. We find that the VAT reduction is completely passed through to consumers. Despite this complete pass-through, we still detect a significant effect of retailer competition: When more retailers offer a product, the price reduction is larger.

Suggested Citation

  • Alisa Frey & Justus Haucap, 2022. "VAT Pass-Through: The Case of a Large and Permanent Reduction in the Market for Menstrual Hygiene Products," CESifo Working Paper Series 9962, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9962
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    VAT reduction; pass-through; hygiene products; retailer competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law

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