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Expropriations, property confiscations and new offshore entities: Evidence from the Panama Papers

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  • Bayer, Ralph-C.
  • Hodler, Roland
  • Raschky, Paul A.
  • Strittmatter, Anthony

Abstract

We study a motive for why individuals may hide wealth in offshore entities that has received scant attention in the academic literature and the public debate: the fear of expropriation. We use the Panama Papers and data on media reporting on expropriations and property confiscations. We document that such news reports increase the probability that offshore entities are incorporated by agents from the same country in the same month. This result is robust to the use of country-year- and month-fixed effects and the exclusion of tax havens. The effect is stronger in countries with well-functioning governments. We argue that individuals start hiding their proceeds from illegal activities in offshore entities when reasonably well-intended and well-functioning governments become more serious about law enforcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Bayer, Ralph-C. & Hodler, Roland & Raschky, Paul A. & Strittmatter, Anthony, 2020. "Expropriations, property confiscations and new offshore entities: Evidence from the Panama Papers," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 132-152.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:171:y:2020:i:c:p:132-152
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.01.002
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    1. Silvia Marchesi & Giovanna Marcolongo, 2023. "Knockin' on H(e)aven's door. Financial crises and hidden wealth," Working Papers 518, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics.
    2. Kern, Andreas & Nosrati, Elias & Reinsberg, Bernhard & Sevinc, Dilek, 2023. "Crash for cash: Offshore financial destinations and IMF programs," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Keith E. Maskus & Alessandro Peri & Anna Rubinchik, 2021. "Hiding Filthy Lucre in Plain Sight: Theory and Identification of Business-Based Money Laundering," CESifo Working Paper Series 9019, CESifo.
    4. Niels Johannesen, 2024. "Offshore tax evasion in developing countries: Evidence and policy discussion," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2024-15, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Deku, Solomon Y. & Lim, King Yoong, 2024. "Oil price effects on optimal extraction–exploration and offshore entities: An applied-theoretical and empirical investigation in oil-rich economies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Expropriations and confiscations; Offshore entities; Tax havens; Panama Papers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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