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Do Large Companies Have Lower Effective Corporate Tax Rates? A European Survey

Author

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  • Gaëtan Nicodème

Abstract

The current debate in corporate taxation is focusing on leveling the tax playing field within the European Union for companies operating across-countries. However, tax burdens could also vary with the size of companies within the same country, raising the question whether large companies pay their share of the burden. This paper uses firm-level data for 21 European countries between 1992 and 2004. The paper finds a robust negative correlation between the number of employees and the effective tax burden of companies. This result tends to validate theories arguing that large companies may enjoy a lower tax burden. As a caveat, using total assets as size variable produces a positive relationship. This relationship is however less robust and less economically significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaëtan Nicodème, 2007. "Do Large Companies Have Lower Effective Corporate Tax Rates? A European Survey," Working Papers CEB 07-001.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:sol:wpaper:07-001
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gaëtan Nicodème, 2008. "Corporate Income Tax and Economic Distortions," Working Papers CEB 08-033.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    2. Jan Svitlík, 2015. "ETR Development and Analysis: Case from the Czech Republic," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2015(4), pages 5-18.
    3. Teuta Balliu & Aida Gaçe Llozana, 2015. "Commonalities and differences of tax systems in West Balkan countries Comparative analysis," European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 2, January -.
    4. European Commission, 2012. "Tax reforms in EU Member States - Tax policy challenges for economic growth and fiscal sustainability – 2012 Report," Taxation Papers 34, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
    5. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    6. Weixian Cai & John Whalley, 2014. "Effective VAT Rates and Administrative Discretion in China," CESifo Working Paper Series 4746, CESifo.
    7. Marcin Piatkowski & Mariusz Jarmuzek, 2008. "Zero Corporate Income Tax in Moldova: Tax Competition and Its Implications for Eastern Europe," IMF Working Papers 2008/203, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Belz, Thomas & von Hagen, Dominik & Steffens, Christian, 2019. "Taxes and firm size: Political cost or political power?," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1-28.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate taxation; Effective tax rates; political power; political cost.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence

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