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The Economics of Corporate and Business Tax Reform

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  • Dhammika Dharmapala

Abstract

The reform of corporate and business taxation is central to current tax policy debates in the United States. This paper provides a framework for analyzing reform proposals by describing the lessons from current economic research for business tax reform, addressing both international and domestic reforms within a unified perspective. The paper begins by identifying ten potential inefficiencies created by the current corporate tax regime. It then discusses three classes of reform proposals. The first involves a substantially lower corporate tax rate and a territorial regime. The second is a formula apportionment system. The third category includes a destination-based cash flow tax. The paper evaluates each of these proposals in the light of the framework introduced earlier. It concludes that the relatively modest reforms currently under discussion would address only a few of these margins. In contrast, more fundamental reforms would eliminate all or most of the inefficiencies of corporate taxation.

Suggested Citation

  • Dhammika Dharmapala, 2016. "The Economics of Corporate and Business Tax Reform," CESifo Working Paper Series 5864, CESifo.
  • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5864
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    Cited by:

    1. Jarkko Harju & Ilpo Kauppinen & Olli Ropponen, 2023. "Firm Responses to an Interest Barrier: Empirical Evidence," Working Papers 7, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research.
    2. Gerda Dewit & Dermot Leahy & Chris Jones & Yama Temouri, 2017. "Does Tax Haven FDI Influence Firm Performance?," Economics Department Working Paper Series n284-17.pdf, Department of Economics, National University of Ireland - Maynooth.
    3. Pacific K. T. Yapatake & Gabriella M-A. M Ngaba, 2019. "Capital Flight and Extent of Corruption control in the Least Corrupt African Countries: An Empirical assessment," CEREDEC Working Papers 19/002, Centre de Recherche pour le Développement Economique (CEREDEC).
    4. Jarkko Harju & Ilpo Kauppinen & Olli Ropponen, 2017. "Firm Responses to an Interest Barrier: Empirical Evidence," EconPol Working Paper 3, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    5. Ropponen, Olli, 2021. "Interest Limitation Rules and Business Cycles: Empirical Evidence," ETLA Working Papers 90, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate tax; business taxation; international taxation; tax reform; territorial taxation; formula apportionment; cash flow tax;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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