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Taxation and the Quality of Entrepreneurship

Author

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  • Asoni, Andrea

    () (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

  • Sanandaji, Tino

    () (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

Abstract

We study the effect of taxation on entrepreneurship, taking into account both the amount of entry and the quality of new ventures. We show that even with risk neutral agents and no tax evasion progressive taxes can increase entrepreneurial entry, while reducing average firm quality. So called "success taxes" increase startup of lower value business ideas by reducing the option value of pursuing better projects. This suggests that the most common measure used in the literature, the likelihood of entry into self-employment, may underestimate the adverse effect of taxation.

Suggested Citation

  • Asoni, Andrea & Sanandaji, Tino, 2009. "Taxation and the Quality of Entrepreneurship," Working Paper Series 813, Research Institute of Industrial Economics, revised 30 Oct 2013.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:0813
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eleftherios Giovanis & Oznur Ozdamar, 2018. "The Nexus Between Business-Investment Climate and Firm Performance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region," Working Papers 1277, Economic Research Forum, revised 26 Dec 2018.
    2. Magnus Henrekson & Tino Sanandaji, 2011. "Entrepreneurship and the theory of taxation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 167-185, September.
    3. Mina Baliamoune-Lutz & Pierre Garello, 2014. "Tax structure and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 165-190, January.
    4. Peter Ericson & Johan Fall, 2011. "Taxation of closely held corporations – efficiency aspects," International Journal of Microsimulation, International Microsimulation Association, vol. 4(2), pages 27-40.
    5. Pontus Braunerhjelm & Magnus Henrekson, 2013. "Entrepreneurship, institutions, and economic dynamism: lessons from a comparison of the United States and Sweden," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 22(1), pages 107-130, February.
    6. Magnus Henrekson & Dan Johansson & Mikael Stenkula, 2010. "Taxation, Labor Market Policy and High-Impact Entrepreneurship," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 275-296, September.
    7. Gordon, Roger H & Sarada,, 2017. "How Should Taxes Be Designed to Encourage Entrepreneurship?," University of California at San Diego, Economics Working Paper Series qt86z3h4n4, Department of Economics, UC San Diego.
    8. Frank M. Fossen & Ray Rees & Davud Rostam-Afschar & Viktor Steiner, 2020. "The effects of income taxation on entrepreneurial investment: A puzzle?," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(6), pages 1321-1363, December.
    9. Haufler, Andreas & Norbäck, Pehr-Johan & Persson, Lars, 2014. "Entrepreneurial innovations and taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 13-31.
    10. Gordon, Roger & Sarada,, 2018. "How should taxes be designed to encourage entrepreneurship?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1-11.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; Entrepreneurial Entry; Quality of Entrepreneurial Firms;

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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