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The long-run investment effect of taxation in OECD countries

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  • Jakob B. Madsen
  • Antonio Minniti
  • Francesco Venturini

Abstract

The gradually changing nature of production and the move away from tangible investment towards intangible investment over the past century suggests that the effects of the tax structure on investment need to be reassessed. To address this issue, we establish an endogenous growth model in which investment in tangible assets, R&D and education are influenced by different types of taxes. We test the long-run implications of the model using annual data for 21 OECD countries over the period 1890-2015. We find that corporate taxes reduce investment in tangible assets and R&D. However, while personal income taxes reduce investment in tertiary education, they enhance the investment in R&D. Thus, a revenue-neutral switch from corporate to personal income taxes is growth enhancing.

Suggested Citation

  • Jakob B. Madsen & Antonio Minniti & Francesco Venturini, 2021. "The long-run investment effect of taxation in OECD countries," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 527, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:nsr:niesrd:527
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    taxation; innovation; Tangible and Intangible Capital; economic growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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