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Ad‐valorem tax incidence and after‐tax price adjustments: evidence from Brazilian basic basket food

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  • Ricardo Batista Politi
  • Enlinson Mattos

Abstract

Recent empirical work on tax incidence suggests that after‐tax price responses are independent of the tax change direction. This paper investigates asymmetric price responses to ad‐valorem tax changes in the Brazilian food market for 10 goods in 16 states during the period 1994–2008. Our results suggest that when tax rates increase, tax full shifting occurs for 2 of the 10 goods and tax overshifting occurs for one of the 10 goods; the price response to tax cuts is an undershifting for all goods. Moreover, this last result is similar to our estimation of (average) tax incidence (undershifting). We also investigate the short‐term and long‐term relationships between prices and VAT rate parameters and find that prices seem to respond to tax shocks within four months. Des travaux récents sur l’incidence de la taxe suggèrent que les ajustements de prix en réponse à cette taxe sont indépendants de la direction du changement de taxe. Ce mémoire analyse les réponses asymétriques des prix à des changements de taxes ad valorem dans le marché des aliments au Brésil – dix produits dans seize états au cours de la période 1994–2008. Les résultats suggèrent que quand les taux de la taxe s’accroîssent, il y a plein ajustement des prix dans le cas de deux produits sur dix, et ajustement excédentaire pour un des dix produits; la réponse des prix à une baisse de la taxe est un ajustement moins que proportionnel dans les prix de tous les biens. De plus, ce dernier résultat est semblable à notre estimation (en moyenne) de l’incidence de la taxe (moins que proportionnelle). On examine aussi les relations à court et à long terme entre les prix et les paramètres du taux de la TVA : il semble que les prix répondent aux chocs des changements de taxe dans les quatre mois.

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  • Ricardo Batista Politi & Enlinson Mattos, 2011. "Ad‐valorem tax incidence and after‐tax price adjustments: evidence from Brazilian basic basket food," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 1438-1470, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:44:y:2011:i:4:p:1438-1470
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2011.01680.x
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    6. Youssef Benzarti & Dorian Carloni & Jarkko Harju & Tuomas Kosonen, 2020. "What Goes Up May Not Come Down: Asymmetric Incidence of Value-Added Taxes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(12), pages 4438-4474.
    7. Juan Carlos Caro & Pourya Valizadeh & Alejandrina Correa & Andres Silva & Shu Wen Ng, 2020. "Combined fiscal policies to promote healthier diets: Effects on purchases and consumer welfare," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, January.
    8. Franz W. Wagner & Stefan Weber, 2016. "Wird die Umsatzsteuer überwälzt? [Do Firms Pass on VAT?]," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 68(4), pages 401-421, December.
    9. Ván, Bálint & Oláh, Dániel, 2018. "Does VAT Cut Appear on the Menu? – The Consumer Price Impact of Hungarian VAT Decreases of 2016–2017," Public Finance Quarterly, Corvinus University of Budapest, vol. 63(3), pages 355-375.
    10. repec:ijm:journl:v109:y:2017:i:1:p:39-72 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Wagner, Franz W. & Weber, Stefan & Gegenwarth, Lisa, 2014. "Wird die Umsatzsteuer überwälzt? Eine empirische Studie der Preispolitik im deutschen Hotelgewerbe," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 179, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    12. Dora Benedek & Ruud A. Mooij & Michael Keen & Philippe Wingender, 2020. "Varieties of VAT pass through," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(4), pages 890-930, August.
    13. James Alm & Kay Blaufus & Martin Fochmann & Erich Kirchler & Peter N. C. Mohr & Nina E. Olson & Benno Torgler, 2020. "Tax Policy Measures to Combat the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Considerations to Improve Tax Compliance: A Behavioral Perspective," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 76(4), pages 396-428.
    14. Simon Voigts, 2016. "VAT multipliers and pass-through dynamics," SFB 649 Discussion Papers SFB649DP2016-026, Sonderforschungsbereich 649, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
    15. Caitlan Russell & Corne van Walbeek, 2016. "How does a change in the excise tax on beer impact beer retail prices in South Africa?," SALDRU Working Papers 162, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    16. Ms. Dora Benedek & Ruud A. de Mooij & Mr. Philippe Wingender, 2015. "Estimating VAT Pass Through," IMF Working Papers 2015/214, International Monetary Fund.
    17. Rodrigo Mariscal & Alejandro M. Werner, 2018. "The Price and Welfare Effects of The Value-Added Tax: Evidence from Mexico," IMF Working Papers 2018/240, International Monetary Fund.
    18. Zhila Abshari & Glenn P. Jenkins & Chun-Yan Kuo & Mostafa Shahee, 2021. "Progressive Taxation versus Progressive Targeted Transfers in the Design of a Sustainable Value Added Tax System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-17, October.
    19. Miguel Gómez-Antonio & Ignacio del Moral Arce & Miriam Hortas-Rico, 2022. "Are vat reforms an effective tool for promoting the consumption of culture? Evidence from a quasiexperiment in Spain," Working Papers. Collection A: Public economics, governance and decentralization 2203, Universidade de Vigo, GEN - Governance and Economics research Network.
    20. Caitlan Russell & Corne van Walbeek, 2016. "How does a Change in the Excise Tax on Beer Impact Beer Retail Prices in South Africa?," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 84(4), pages 555-573, December.
    21. Alex Ufier, 2017. "The effect of VATs on government balance sheets," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 24(6), pages 1141-1173, December.
    22. Andrej Cupák & Peter Tóth, 2017. "Measuring the Efficiency of VAT reforms: Evidence from Slovakia," Working and Discussion Papers WP 6/2017, Research Department, National Bank of Slovakia.

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    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence

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