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Unionisation Triggers Tax Incentives to Attract Foreign Direct Investment

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  • Haufler, Andreas
  • Mittermaier, Ferdinand

Abstract

This article analyses tax competition between a unionised and a non-unionised country for the location of an outside firm. We show that unionisation increases the incentive for the government to attract a foreign investor, in order to affect the behaviour of the domestic union. This results in the unionised country’s government offering a tax discount (or a subsidy premium) to the outside firm in excess of what is needed to compensate the investor for the higher union wage. In equilibrium, therefore, the unionised country attracts the foreign investment, even if it has no other location advantages.

Suggested Citation

  • Haufler, Andreas & Mittermaier, Ferdinand, 2011. "Unionisation Triggers Tax Incentives to Attract Foreign Direct Investment," Munich Reprints in Economics 20404, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:20404
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • J58 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Public Policy

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