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Taxes, Agglomeration Rents and Location Decisions of Firms

Author

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  • Crabb, Karen

    (LESSIUS Antwerpen and Catholic University of Leuven)

  • De Bruyne, Karolien

    (Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel (HUB), Belgium)

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to analyse the impact of interactions between tax rates and agglomeration rents on location decisions of firms within Belgium. In the theoretical literature it is argued that both location determinants may weaken each others impact. Using the number of new firms at the sector level for 43 Belgian districts, we show that local effective tax rates either have no or a negative impact on location decisions. Moreover, both types of agglomeration rents in a district are important for location decisions. The presence of firms in a district attracts new firms, while the presence of firms in the same sector deters firm entry due to competition. However, the interaction effect between taxes and agglomeration rents on firm entry is significant. We show that a higher effective tax rate in a district weakens the positive impact of the agglomeration rents on location decisions of firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Crabb, Karen & De Bruyne, Karolien, 2010. "Taxes, Agglomeration Rents and Location Decisions of Firms," Working Papers 2010/28, Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel, Faculteit Economie en Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:hub:wpecon:201028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yu Chen & Zhigang Li & Zheng Liu, 2018. "Agglomeration and actual tax rates: firm-level evidence from China," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(1), pages 93-104, January.
    3. Eichfelder, Sebastian & Kluska, Mike & Knaisch, Jonas & Selle, Juliane, 2021. "Senkung der Unternehmenssteuerlast versus Förderung von Investitionen: Was ist die bessere Strategie zur Förderung der Standortattraktivität Deutschlands?," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 266, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    4. Zheng, Dan & Shi, Minjun, 2018. "Industrial land policy, firm heterogeneity and firm location choice: Evidence from China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 58-67.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General

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