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The effect of leverage on the tax‐cut versus investment‐subsidy argument

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  • Anna Danielova
  • Sudipto Sarkar

Abstract

Two common methods of attracting corporate investment are investment incentives and tax incentives. It is important to use the two incentives in the correct proportions, otherwise the government will give up too much value in the process of attracting investment. This paper examines the effect of tax cut and investment subsidy on the government's net benefit from a project. Earlier studies concluded that it was optimal to use only investment subsidy and no tax cuts. We show that this is not true when debt financing is possible, and it is generally optimal (from the government's perspective) to use a combination of tax reduction and investment subsidy. The optimal tax rate and optimal investment subsidy are identified and analyzed in the paper. It is shown that using a sub‐optimal combination of incentives can result in substantial reduction of benefits for the government.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Danielova & Sudipto Sarkar, 2011. "The effect of leverage on the tax‐cut versus investment‐subsidy argument," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(4), pages 123-129, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:revfec:v:20:y:2011:i:4:p:123-129
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rfe.2011.10.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Kang, Minwook, 2022. "The positive impact of investment subsidies on the economy with present-biased consumers," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 229-235.
    3. Haikel Khalfallah & Bibata Sagnon, 2023. "Coordination séquentielle des investissements dans la production d'électricité et dans le réseau électrique : le rôle des incitations renouvelables," Working Papers 2023-04, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).

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