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Global spillovers of taxation in the online advertising market. Theory and evidence from facebook

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  • Lassmann, Andrea
  • Liberini, Federica
  • Russo, Antonio
  • Cuevas, Ángel
  • Cuevas, Rubén

Abstract

We study the effect of corporate taxes on multinational digital platforms and the global online advertising market. Using a novel dataset of advertising prices and user product preferences from Facebook, jointly with international trade data, we show that an increase in the platform’s corporate tax rate in several countries had a sizeable effect on advertising prices therein. Given the platform’s two-sided and multinational structure, we also document substantial spillovers in the effects of ad prices across countries. The results are consistent with our theoretical model, which shows that, due to consumers’ limited tolerance for ads, the platform reduces the supply of ads to advertisers located in countries where it faces a higher tax rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Lassmann, Andrea & Liberini, Federica & Russo, Antonio & Cuevas, Ángel & Cuevas, Rubén, 2025. "Global spillovers of taxation in the online advertising market. Theory and evidence from facebook," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s0014292124002642
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2024.104935
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    2. David R. Agrawal & William F. Fox, 2021. "Taxing Goods and Services in a Digital Era," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 74(1), pages 257-301.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Online advertising; Two-sided platforms; Corporate taxes; Pass-through; International trade; Gravity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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