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Trade Credit and Taxes

Author

Listed:
  • Mihir A. Desai

    (Harvard University and NBER)

  • C. Fritz Foley

    (Harvard University and NBER)

  • James R. Hines Jr.

    (University of Michigan and NBER)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the extent to which tax differences affect the use of trade credit. U.S.-owned affiliates in low-tax countries use trade credit to lend, whereas those in high-tax countries use trade credit to borrow: 10% lower local tax rates are associated with net trade credit positions that are 1.4% higher as a fraction of sales. The use of trade credit to get capital out of low-tax, low-return environments is also illustrated by the temporary repatriation tax holiday in 2005, which was used most intensively by affiliates with positive net trade credit positions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mihir A. Desai & C. Fritz Foley & James R. Hines Jr., 2016. "Trade Credit and Taxes," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 98(1), pages 132-139, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:98:y:2016:i:1:p:132-139
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    File URL: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/REST_a_00534
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abu Jalal & Shahriar Khaksari, 2020. "Cash cycle: A cross‐country analysis," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 49(3), pages 635-671, September.
    2. Adhikari, Hari P. & More, Deepak G. & Sah, Nilesh B., 2025. "Climate change exposure and short-termism: Evidence from net trade credit," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Bao, Yangming & Goetz, Martin, 2018. "Local peer effects and corporate investment," SAFE Working Paper Series 220, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    4. Nisar Ahmad & Talat Afza & Bilal Nafees, 2017. "Determinants of Trade Credit Extended by Manufacturing Firms Listed in Pakistan," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 9(4), pages 287-314, December.
    5. Karakoç, Bahadır, 2025. "Credit where it's due: The synergy of trade credit and innovation in R&D-driven firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    6. He, Mengyu & Kang, Kai & Wei, Xuguang & Li, Yongjian, 2023. "Financing strategy of transnational supply chain with vertical shareholding under tax system difference: Creditor or guarantor?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Cheung, Adrian (Waikong) & Pok, Wee Ching, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility and provision of trade credit," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
    8. Platikanova, Petya, 2017. "Investor-legislators: Tax holiday for politically connected firms," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 380-398.
    9. El Ghoul, Sadok & Zheng, Xiaolan, 2016. "Trade credit provision and national culture," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 475-501.
    10. Gary Tobin & Keith Walsh, 2013. "What Makes a Country a Tax Haven? An Assessment of International Standards Shows Why Ireland Is Not a Tax Haven," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 44(3), pages 401-424.
    11. Li, Xiao & Ng, Jeffrey & Saffar, Walid, 2025. "Movable assets as collateral in debt financing and effects on trade credit: Evidence from collateral law reforms," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Gofman, Michael & Wu, Youchang, 2022. "Trade credit and profitability in production networks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 593-618.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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