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How do labor adjustment costs affect corporate tax planning? Evidence from labor skills

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  • Nguyen, Justin Hung

Abstract

Labor adjustment costs (LACs) are a broad concept and involve costs incurred to search, hire, train, retain, and fire employees. Using the level of labor skills as a proxy for LACs, I find that higher LACs are associated with greater tax savings. The effect is stronger for firms facing more intense competition, and firms in states that strengthen labor protection, but weaker for firms in states that restrain labor mobility. High-LAC firms avoid taxes in order to generate precautionary cash. Collectively, the evidence indicates a significant influence of frictions in labor markets (i.e., LACs) on corporate tax planning behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Nguyen, Justin Hung, 2022. "How do labor adjustment costs affect corporate tax planning? Evidence from labor skills," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:83:y:2022:i:c:s1057521922002496
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102293
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labor skill; Labor adjustment cost; Tax avoidance; Cash holding;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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