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Corporate tax avoidance and sales: micro evidence and aggregate implications

Author

Listed:
  • Julien Martin

    (Université du Québec à Montréal and CEPR)

  • Mathieu Parenti

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles and CEPR)

  • Farid Toubal

    (Université Paris-Dauphine-PSL, CEPII, CESifo and CEPR)

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of corporate tax avoidance (CTA) on firm-level sales, and its aggregate implications. CTA gives a competitive advantage to avoiding firms, which affects the distribution of sales in the economy. We find a causal impact of CTA on sales in US firm-level data. CTA increased more among the largest firms, which has reinforced their dominant position. A quantitative exercise reveals that the strength of CTA in shaping changes in the distribution of sales varies across industries. In industries like computers or chemicals, CTA can explain up to 10%-30% of the increase in concentration from 1994 to 2017. Further analysis shows the impact of CTA-induced distortions on industrial output is relevant at a macroeconomic scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien Martin & Mathieu Parenti & Farid Toubal, 2023. "Corporate tax avoidance and sales: micro evidence and aggregate implications," Working Papers 016, EU Tax Observatory.
    • Handle: RePEc:dbp:wpaper:016
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Margarita Lopez-Forero, 2024. "Aggregate Labor Share and Tax Havens: Things are not always what they seem," Working papers 982, Banque de France.
    2. Sánchez-Ballesta, Juan Pedro & Yagüe, José, 2023. "Tax avoidance and the cost of debt for SMEs: Evidence from Spain," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(2).
    3. Coppier, Raffaella & Michetti, Elisabetta & Scaccia, Luisa, 2024. "Dimensional traps in evasion models and their effects on industrial structure," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    4. Gauß, P. & Kortenhaus, M. & Riedel, N. & Simmler, M., 2024. "Leveling the playing field: Constraints on multinational profit shifting and the performance of national firms," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    5. Tommaso Bighelli & Filippo di Mauro & Marc J Melitz & Matthias Mertens, 2023. "European Firm Concentration and Aggregate Productivity," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 21(2), pages 455-483.
    6. Annette Alstadsæter & Julie Brun Bjørkheim & Ronald B. Davies & Johannes Scheuerer, 2022. "Pennies from Haven: Wages and Profit Shifting," Working Papers 002, EU Tax Observatory.
    7. Bricongne, Jean-Charles & Delpeuch, Samuel & Lopez-Forero, Margarita, 2023. "Productivity slowdown and tax havens: Where is measured value creation?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    8. Jean-Charles Bricongne & Samuel Delpeuch & Margarita Lopez Forero, 2021. "Productivity Slowdown, Tax Havens and MNEs’ Intangibles: where is measured value creation?," Documents de recherche 21-01, Centre d'Études des Politiques Économiques (EPEE), Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne.
    9. Jean-Charles Bricongne & Samuel Delpeuch & Margarita Lopez Forero, 2021. "Regional Productivity Slowdown, Tax Havens and MNEs Intangibles: where is Measured Value Creation?," Working papers 835, Banque de France.
    10. Joana Garcia, 2022. "Multinationals and services imports from havens: when policies stand in the way of tax planning," Working Papers w202214, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    11. Aleksi Eerola & Arjen H. L. Slangen, 2022. "A Review of International Management Research on Corporate Taxation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(5), pages 643-680, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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