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The true art of the tax deal: Evidence on aid flows and bilateral double tax agreements

Author

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  • Julia Braun

    (Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW))

  • Martin Zagler

    (Department of Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business)

Abstract

Out of a total of 2,976 double tax agreements (DTAs), some 60% are signed between a developing and a developed economy. As DTAs shift taxing rights from capital importing to capital exporting countries, the prior would incur a loss. We demonstrate in a theoretical model that in a deal one country does not trump the other, but that the deal must be mutually beneficial. In the case of an asymmetric DTA, this requires compensation from the capital exporting country to the capital importing country. We provide empirical evidence that such compensation is indeed paid, for instance in the form of bilateral official development assistance, which increases on average by six million US$ in the year of the signature of a DTA.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Braun & Martin Zagler, 2017. "The true art of the tax deal: Evidence on aid flows and bilateral double tax agreements," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp242, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wiwwuw:wuwp242
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    Cited by:

    1. Azémar, Céline & Dharmapala, Dhammika, 2019. "Tax sparing agreements, territorial tax reforms, and foreign direct investment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 89-108.
    2. Petr Janský & Jan Láznička & Miroslav Palanský, 2021. "Tax treaties worldwide: Estimating elasticities and revenue foregone," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 359-401, May.
    3. Kudła, Janusz & Kopczewska, Katarzyna & Stachowiak-Kudła, Monika, 2023. "Trade, investment and size inequalities between countries and the asymmetry in double taxation agreements," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    4. Anh D. Pham & Ha Pham & Kim Cuong Ly, 2019. "Double Taxation Treaties as a Catalyst for Trade Developments: A Comparative Study of Vietnam’s Relations with ASEAN and EU Member States," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    developing countries; foreign aid; double taxation agreements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H87 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - International Fiscal Issues; International Public Goods
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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