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Tax competition, tax coordination and tax harmonization: The effects of EMU

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  • Bernd Genser
  • Andreas Haufler

Abstract

There is little doubt that the step towards a monetary union in Europe will increase both the distortionary effects of existing differences in national tax systems and the intensity of tax competition for internationally mobile commodity and factor tax bases. This paper discusses selected issues of commodity and capital tax coordination that are likely to be affected by monetary unification. Starting from the distortive present scheme of value-added taxation in Europe we first analyze the effects of a switch to a general origin-based VAT as a way to maintain national tax rate autonomy over this important tax base. While an origin-based VAT would neither distort trade flows - both within the EU and with third countries - nor investment decisions in the long-run, its short-run effects are likely to be severe in the absence of exchange rate flexibility. In the field of capital taxation the focus switches to the feasibility of regional harmonization measures when there is no cooperation with the rest of the world. We argue that in a monetary union the mobility costs of capital will be significantly lower within the EU as compared to outside investments. This provides an efficiency argument for minimum source taxes on both interest income and corporate profits even if cooperation with third countries is infeasible.
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  • Bernd Genser & Andreas Haufler, 1996. "Tax competition, tax coordination and tax harmonization: The effects of EMU," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 23(1), pages 59-89, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:empiri:v:23:y:1996:i:1:p:59-89
    DOI: 10.1007/BF00925008
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    Cited by:

    1. Keen, Michael & Lahiri, Sajal, 1998. "The comparison between destination and origin principles under imperfect competition," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 323-350, August.
    2. Peter Lloyd, 2010. "Global Economic Integration," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(1), pages 71-86, February.
    3. Luděk Kouba & Michal Mádr & Danuše Nerudová & Petr Rozmahel, 2015. "Policy Autonomy, Coordination or Harmonisation in the Persistently Heterogeneous European Union? WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 95," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 58136, April.
    4. Kolmar, Martin, 1999. "Optimale Ansiedlung sozialpolitischer Entscheidungskompetenzen in der Europäischen Union," Beiträge zur Finanzwissenschaft, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, edition 1, volume 7, number urn:isbn:9783161471254, December.
    5. Dennis Mueller, 1998. "Constitutional Constraints on Governments in a Global Economy," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 171-186, September.
    6. Genser, Bernd, 1995. "Auf der Suche nach einer föderativen Finanzverfassung für Europa," Discussion Papers, Series II 290, University of Konstanz, Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 178 "Internationalization of the Economy".
    7. Petutschnig, Matthias, 2017. "Future orientation and taxes: Evidence from big data," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 14-31.
    8. Genser, Bernd & Haufler, Andreas, 1996. "Tax policy and the location decision of firms," Discussion Papers, Series II 306, University of Konstanz, Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 178 "Internationalization of the Economy".
    9. Robert Holzmann & Yves Hervé & Roland Demmel, 1996. "The maastricht fiscal criteria: Required but ineffective?," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 23(1), pages 25-58, February.
    10. Genser, Bernd, 2003. "Coordinating VATs between EU Member States," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 10(6), pages 735-752, November.
    11. Helmut Kramer, 1998. "Koordinierung der nationalen Steuersysteme in der EU," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 71(8), pages 523-529, August.
    12. Silvia Fedeli & Francesco Forte, 2012. "Border Tax Adjustment without Borders: The EU Carousel of VAT Fraud," Review of Economics & Finance, Better Advances Press, Canada, vol. 2, pages 55-70, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax competition; tax harmonisation; European Union; F42; H20; H87;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H87 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - International Fiscal Issues; International Public Goods

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