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Inflation and the Taxation of Capital Income in the Corporate Sector

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  • Martin Feldstein
  • Lawrence H. Summers

Abstract

This detailed examination of the effect of inflation on the taxation of capital used by nonfinancial corporations considers not only the tax paid by the corporations them- selves but also the tax paid by the individuals and institutions that provide capital to the corporate sector. Although corporations deduct nominal interest payments that exceed real interest, the additional taxes that lenders pay slightly exceed the tax saving by corporate borrowers. Our calculations indicate that inflation raised the 1977 tax burden on corporate sector capital income by more than $32 billion, a 50 percent increase in the total tax burden.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Feldstein & Lawrence H. Summers, 1979. "Inflation and the Taxation of Capital Income in the Corporate Sector," NBER Working Papers 0312, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:0312
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aaron, Henry J, 1976. "Inflation and the Income Tax," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(2), pages 193-199, May.
    2. Martin Feldstein & Lawrence Summers, 1983. "Inflation, Tax Rules, and the Long-term Interest Rate," NBER Chapters, in: Inflation, Tax Rules, and Capital Formation, pages 153-185, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Bradford, David F., 1981. "The incidence and allocation effects of a tax on corporate distributions," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Martin Feldstein & Jerry Green & Eytan Sheshinski, 1983. "Inflation and Taxes in a Growing Economy with Debt and Equity Finance," NBER Chapters, in: Inflation, Tax Rules, and Capital Formation, pages 44-60, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Martin Feldstein, 1983. "Fiscal Policies, Inflation, and Capital Formation," NBER Chapters, in: Inflation, Tax Rules, and Capital Formation, pages 61-80, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Auerbach, Alan J., 1979. "Share valuation and corporate equity policy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 291-305, June.
    7. Lawrence H. Summers, 1978. "Tax Policy in a Life Cycle Model," NBER Working Papers 0302, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Michael C. Lovell, 1978. "The Profit Picture: Trends and Cycles," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 9(3), pages 769-789.
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