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China’s Value-Added Tax Reform, Firm Behavior and Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Huihua Nie

    (School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Mingyue Fang

    (School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Tao Li

    (School of Economics, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing 100081, China)

Abstract

China reformed value-added tax (VAT) by removing investment from the tax base in northeastern provinces in 2004, which is a “natural experiment” of its tax system. Using difference-in-differences method, this paper for the first time investigates the impact of VAT reform on China firms’ fixed asset investment, employment behavior, innovative activities, and productivity, and furthermore discusses the impact of firm behavior on industrial structural upgrade and employment with a firm-level panel data of large and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in China. We find that VAT reform significantly promotes firms’fixed asset investment, and increases firms’capital-labor ratio and productivity; while enhancement of firms’ productivity is mainly achieved by means of substituting labor with capital, rather than independent technology innovation; meanwhile, VAT reform distinctly decreases employment. Our findings have essential policy implications on the extension of VAT reform in the entire China.

Suggested Citation

  • Huihua Nie & Mingyue Fang & Tao Li, 2010. "China’s Value-Added Tax Reform, Firm Behavior and Performance," Frontiers of Economics in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities, Higher Education Press, vol. 5(3), pages 445-463, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:fec:journl:v:5:y:2010:i:3:p:445-463
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    File URL: http://journal.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/10.1007/s11459-010-0107-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Saeed Solaymani, 2020. "Assessing the economic and social impacts of fiscal policies," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 47(3), pages 671-694, March.
    2. Fang, Hongsheng & Bao, Yuxin & Zhang, Jun, 2017. "Asymmetric reform bonus: The impact of VAT pilot expansion on China's corporate total tax burden," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(S), pages 17-34.
    3. Jiayi Du & Guangjun Shen & Jingxian Zou, 2023. "Tax incentives and firm financing structures: evidence from China’s accelerated depreciation policy," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(5), pages 1346-1373, October.
    4. Wang D., 2013. "The impact of the 2009 value added tax reform on enterprise investment and employment ‐ Empirical analysis based on Chinese tax survey data," MERIT Working Papers 2013-059, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand

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