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Steuerpolitische Perspektiven der Unternehmensteuerreform 2008

Author

Listed:
  • Johannes Becker
  • Clemens Fuest

Abstract

The reform of the German corporate income tax aims at attracting investment and jobs to Germany and wants to reduce profit shifting to other countries. At the same time, the tax revenue losses are to be kept as low as possible. This article surveys the most important elements of the reform and analyses its economic effects. We argue that the reform makes investment in Germany more interesting for highly profitable investments of multinational firms. Investment by nationally oriented and less profitable firms is likely to decline. Moreover, equity financing of firms with domestic sources of finance is discriminated relative to debt. The overall assessment of the reform is mixed. Die Reform der Unternehmensbesteuerung verfolgt das Ziel, mehr Investitionen und Arbeitsplätze in Deutschland zu halten und die Verlagerung von Buchgewinnen in Niedrigsteuerländer einzuschränken. Gleichzeitig sollen die Steueraufkommensverluste möglichst gering gehalten werden. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Elemente der Reform und analysiert ihre ökonomischen Auswirkungen. Es zeigt sich, dass die Reform für international agierende, ertragstarke Unternehmen Investitionen in Deutschland interessanter macht, während eher auf das Inland beschränkte und weniger ertragstarke Unternehmen weniger investieren werden. Die Eigenkapitalfinanzierung wird bei rein inländischen Investitionen gegenüber Fremdkapital massiv benachteiligt. Insgesamt ist die Reformbilanz daher gemischt.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Becker & Clemens Fuest, 2007. "Steuerpolitische Perspektiven der Unternehmensteuerreform 2008," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 76(2), pages 39-48.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:76-2-4
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.76.2.39
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johannes Becker & Clemens Fuest, 2006. "Ist Deutschland Hoch‐ oder Niedrigsteuerland? Der Versuch einer Synthese," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 7(1), pages 35-42, February.
    2. Fred Ramb & Alfons J. Weichenrieder, 2005. "Taxes and the Financial Structure of German Inward FDI," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 141(4), pages 670-692, December.
    3. de Mooij, Ruud A & Ederveen, Sjef, 2003. "Taxation and Foreign Direct Investment: A Synthesis of Empirical Research," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 10(6), pages 673-693, November.
    4. Giacomo Corneo, 2005. "The Rise and Likely Fall of the German Income Tax, 1958–2005," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 51(1), pages 159-186.
    5. Diamond, Peter A & Mirrlees, James A, 1971. "Optimal Taxation and Public Production II: Tax Rules," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 61(3), pages 261-278, June.
    6. Thiess Buettner & Martin Ruf, 2007. "Tax incentives and the location of FDI: Evidence from a panel of German multinationals," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 14(2), pages 151-164, April.
    7. Huizinga, Harry & Laeven, Luc, 2007. "International Profit Shifting within European Multinationals," CEPR Discussion Papers 6048, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Michael P. Devereux & Rachel Griffith & Alexander Klemm, 2002. "Corporate income tax reforms and international tax competition [‘Do domestic firms benefit from direct foreign investment? Evidence from Venezuela’]," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 17(35), pages 449-495.
    9. Alfons Weichenrieder, 2009. "Profit shifting in the EU: evidence from Germany," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 16(3), pages 281-297, June.
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    3. Rumpf, Dominik, 2013. "Zinsbereinigung bei der Dualen Einkommensteuer," Beiträge zur Finanzwissenschaft, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, edition 1, volume 32, number urn:isbn:9783161528699, June.

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    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General

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