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A proposal for unitary taxes on the profits of transnational corporations

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  • Mold, Andrew

Abstract

Foreign direct investment (FDI); in developing countries has been increasing at an unprecedented rate, and the profitability of the operations of the investing firms in poor regions like Sub-Saharan Africa is extraordinarily high. Yet at the same time there is growing evidence that transnational corporations (TNCs); are paying less and less in terms of tax. The developing countries in particular have suffered from this —it has been estimated that developing country governments lose at least US$35 billion a year of revenue through tax avoidance practices. This paper presents empirical evidence and a proposal for applying a unitary tax system on the profits of TNCs. Such a system would eliminate one of the most powerful mechanisms at the disposal of TNCs for illegally avoiding tax payments—transfer pricing. The paper concludes by arguing that a proposal for a unitary tax system on a worldwide basis may be sufficient to unblock the negotiations on a multilateral investment code.

Suggested Citation

  • Mold, Andrew, 2004. "A proposal for unitary taxes on the profits of transnational corporations," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecr:col070:11008
    Note: Includes bibliography
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    File URL: http://repositorio.cepal.org/handle/11362/11008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zee, Howell H. & Stotsky, Janet G. & Ley, Eduardo, 2002. "Tax Incentives for Business Investment: A Primer for Policy Makers in Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(9), pages 1497-1516, September.
    2. Douglas Shackelford & Joel Slemrod, 1998. "The Revenue Consequences of Using Formula Apportionment to Calculate U.S. and Foreign-Source Income: A Firm-Level Analysis," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 5(1), pages 41-59, February.
    3. Mr. Vito Tanzi, 2000. "Globalization and the Future of Social Protection," IMF Working Papers 2000/012, International Monetary Fund.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liudmila V. Polezharova & Aleksandra M. Krasnobaeva, 2020. "E-Commerce Taxation in Russia: Problems and Approaches," Journal of Tax Reform, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 6(2), pages 125-143.

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