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Does tax competition make mobile firms more footloose?

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  • Wooton, Ian
  • Ferrett, Ben
  • Hoefele, Andreas

Abstract

Existing analyses of fiscal competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) often assume a one-shot interaction between governments and the firm within a static environment where the firm makes a permanent location choice. We examine a two-period regional model where economic geography evolves, giving the firm an incentive to relocate between periods. Government competition for FDI leads the firm to make efficient location choices, with relocation “more likely†in the presence of international tax competition, because the winning country’s bid absorbs some of the firm’s relocation costs. With more time periods, tax competition induces firm relocation sooner than in its absence.

Suggested Citation

  • Wooton, Ian & Ferrett, Ben & Hoefele, Andreas, 2016. "Does tax competition make mobile firms more footloose?," CEPR Discussion Papers 11325, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11325
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    1. Konrad, Kai A. & Kovenock, Dan, 2009. "Competition for FDI with vintage investment and agglomeration advantages," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 230-237, November.
    2. Ben Ferrett & Ian Wooton, 2010. "Competing for a duopoly: international trade and tax competition," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 43(3), pages 776-794, August.
    3. Fumagalli, Chiara, 2003. "On the welfare effects of competition for foreign direct investments," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 963-983, December.
    4. Ben Ferrett & Ian Wooton, 2010. "Tax competition and the international distribution of firm ownership: an invariance result," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 17(5), pages 518-531, October.
    5. Bjorvatn, Kjetil & Eckel, Carsten, 2006. "Policy competition for foreign direct investment between asymmetric countries," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(7), pages 1891-1907, October.
    6. Haufler, Andreas & Wooton, Ian, 1999. "Country size and tax competition for foreign direct investment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 121-139, January.
    7. Konrad, Kai A. & Kovenock, Dan, 2009. "Competition for FDI with vintage investment and agglomeration advantages," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 230-237, November.
    8. Olsen, Trond E. & Osmundsen, Petter, 2003. "Spillovers and international competition for investments," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 211-238, January.
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    11. Haaparanta, Pertti, 1996. "Competition for foreign direct investments," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 141-153, December.
    12. Taiji Furusawa & Kazumi Hori & Ian Wooton, 2015. "A race beyond the bottom: the nature of bidding for a firm," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 22(3), pages 452-475, June.
    13. Ian King & R. Preston McAfee & Linda Welling, 1993. "Industrial Blackmail: Dynamic Tax Competition and Public Investment," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 26(3), pages 590-608, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Haupt, Alexander & Krieger, Tim, 2020. "The role of relocation mobility in tax and subsidy competition," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Mao, Haiou & Görg, Holger & Fang, Guopei, 2023. "Time to Say Goodbye? The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Foreign Divestment," IZA Discussion Papers 16406, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Mao, Haiou & Görg, Holger & Fang, Guopei, 2023. "Time to say goodbye? The impact of environmental regulation on foreign divestment," KCG Working Papers 27, Kiel Centre for Globalization (KCG).
    4. Mao, Haiou & Görg, Holger & Fang, Guopei, 2023. "Time to say goodbye? The impact of environmental regulation on foreign divestment," Kiel Working Papers 2255, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    5. Nora Paulus & Patrice Pieretti & Benteng Zou, 2018. "Tax Competition - An intertemporal perspective," DEM Discussion Paper Series 18-10, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fdi; Dynamic fiscal competition; Geographical change; Efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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