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International tax leadership among asymmetric countries

Author

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  • HINDRIKS, Jean

    (Université catholique de Louvain, CORE, Belgium)

  • nishimura, YUKIHIRO

    (Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics, Japan)

Abstract

Multinational companies can shift profit and income between branches in order to reduce the overall tax liabilities of the company. The result is a tax competition between countries. In this paper we consider the sequential choice of tax rates to illustrate the potential effects of tax leadership. We use a profit shifting model with multinational firms that operate in two countries, large and small. Governments compete by setting source-based corporate income taxes. We show that: (i) the sequential tax equilibria always Pareto dominate the simultaneous tax equilibrium. (ii) Each country prefers to follow than to lead the tax game. (iii) The tax leadership by the large country risk-dominates the tax leadership by the small country. Therefore our analysis provides a plausible explanation for the endogenous emergence of the tax leader- ship by the large countries. The results are contrasting with previous results in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • HINDRIKS, Jean & nishimura, YUKIHIRO, 2014. "International tax leadership among asymmetric countries," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2014028, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2014028
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    File URL: https://sites.uclouvain.be/core/publications/coredp/coredp2014.html
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hindriks, Jean & Nishimura, Yukihiro, 2015. "A note on equilibrium leadership in tax competition models," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 66-68.
    2. Mattéo Godin & Jean Hindriks, 2015. "A Review of critical issues on tax design and tax administration in a global economy and developing countries," BeFinD Working Papers 0107, University of Namur, Department of Economics.
    3. Carrillo-Tudela, Carlos & Hobijn, Bart & She, Powen & Visschers, Ludo, 2016. "The extent and cyclicality of career changes: Evidence for the U.K," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 18-41.
    4. Kshetri, Nir, 2017. "The evolution of the internet of things industry and market in China: An interplay of institutions, demands and supply," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 49-67.
    5. repec:nam:befdwp:7 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Hindriks, Jean & Nishimura, Yukihiro, 2014. "On the timing of tax and investment in fiscal competition models," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2014065, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    7. Ozturk, Fatma & Keles, Melek & Evrendilek, Fatih, 2016. "Quantifying rates and drivers of change in long-term sector- and country-specific trends of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 823-831.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    profit shifting; tax competition; endogenous timing; second-mover advantage; risk-dominance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • F68 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Policy
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H87 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - International Fiscal Issues; International Public Goods

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