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Competition, Harmonization and Redistribution: Corporate Taxes in Switzerland

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  • Marius Brülhart
  • Marko Koethenbuerger
  • Matthias Krapf
  • Raphael Parchet
  • Kurt Schmidheiny
  • David Staubli

Abstract

Switzerland could be considered as a test case for international corporate-tax policy coordination. It is a federation of 26 fiscally autonomous cantons that have been taxing corporate profits more or less independently for over a century. We document and discuss corporate taxation in Switzerland, with a focus on three aspects: (a) the evolving within-country geography of taxable profits and corporate tax rates, (b) the nature and historical emergence of formal tax-base harmonization, and (c) the functioning of fiscal equalization. Parallels are drawn and differences are discussed relative to ongoing efforts at international tax coordination.

Suggested Citation

  • Marius Brülhart & Marko Koethenbuerger & Matthias Krapf & Raphael Parchet & Kurt Schmidheiny & David Staubli, 2023. "Competition, Harmonization and Redistribution: Corporate Taxes in Switzerland," NBER Working Papers 31830, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31830
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    Cited by:

    1. David R. Agrawal, 2024. "Limits to Competition: Strategies for Promoting Jurisdictional Cooperation," NBER Chapters, in: Policy Responses to Tax Competition, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Jeffrey Clemens & Stan Veuger, 2024. "Intergovernmental Grants and Policy Competition: Concepts, Institutions, and Evidence," NBER Chapters, in: Policy Responses to Tax Competition, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. David R. Agrawal & Jan K. Brueckner & Marius Brülhart, 2024. "Fiscal Federalism in the 21st Century," CESifo Working Paper Series 10951, CESifo.
    4. David R. Agrawal & James M. Poterba & Owen M. Zidar, 2024. "Policy Responses to Tax Competition: An Introduction," NBER Working Papers 32090, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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