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The Debt-Equity Bias: consequences and solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Serena Fatica

    (European Commission)

  • Thomas Hemmelgarn

    (European Commission)

  • Gaetan Nicodeme

    (European Commission)

Abstract

The tax deductibility of interest payments in most corporate income tax systems coupled with no such measure for equity financing creates economic distortions and exacerbates leverage. This paper discusses the consequences of this debt bias and the possible remedies.

Suggested Citation

  • Serena Fatica & Thomas Hemmelgarn & Gaetan Nicodeme, 2012. "The Debt-Equity Bias: consequences and solutions," Taxation Papers 33, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
  • Handle: RePEc:tax:taxpap:0033
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    Cited by:

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    2. European Commission, 2013. "Tax reforms in EU Member States - Tax policy challenges for economic growth and fiscal sustainability – 2013 Report," Taxation Papers 38, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
    3. Ahmed Mahdi Belouafi & Chaouki Bourakba & Karima Saci, 2015. "Islamic Finance and Financial Stability: A Review of the Literature التمويل الإسلامي والاستقرار المالي: مراجعة الأدبيات النظرية," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics, King Abdulaziz University, Islamic Economics Institute., vol. 28(2), pages 3-42, July.
    4. Fischer, Marcel & Jensen, Bjarne Astrup, 2019. "The debt tax shield in general equilibrium," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 151-166.
    5. Milena Mathé & Gaetan Nicodeme & Savino Rua, 2015. "Tax shifts," Taxation Papers 59, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
    6. Marina Purina, 2021. "Human Freedom and Effective Corporate Income Tax Rates of CEE Listed Companies," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2021(2), pages 05-28.
    7. Thomas Hemmelgarn & Daniel Teichmann, 2014. "Tax reforms and the capital structure of banks," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 21(4), pages 645-693, August.
    8. Kayis-Kumar, Ann, 2015. "Taxing cross-border intercompany transactions: are financing activities fungible?," MPRA Paper 71615, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Coeuré, B., 2015. "Completing the single market in capital," Financial Stability Review, Banque de France, issue 19, pages 15-24, April.
    10. Harju, Jarkko & Kauppinen, Ilpo & Ropponen, Olli, 2017. "Firm Responses to an Interest Barrier: Empirical Evidence," Working Papers 90, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    11. Serena Fatica & Wouter Heynderickx & Andrea Pagano, 2020. "Banks, Debt And Risk: Assessing The Spillovers Of Corporate Taxes," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(2), pages 1023-1044, April.
    12. Portal, Márcio Telles & Laureano, Luis, 2017. "Does Brazilian allowance for corporate equity reduce the debt bias? Evidences of rebound effect and ownership-induced ACE clientele," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 480-495.
    13. Bernardi, Luigi, 2014. "Tax reforms in EU Member States subce rhe turn of the New centuri: selected observations," MPRA Paper 56856, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Yun Luo & Sailesh Tanna, 2014. "Taxation and bank risk-taking," Chapters, in: Sajid M. Chaudhry & Andrew W Mullineux (ed.), Taxing Banks Fairly, chapter 2, pages 31-53, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    15. Luigi Bernardi, 2014. "Tax Reforms in the EU Member States Since the Turn of the New Century: Selected Observations," Working papers 2, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    16. Kayis-Kumar, Ann, 2015. "Thin capitalisation rules: A second-best solution to the cross-border debt bias?," MPRA Paper 72031, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Spengel, Christoph & Heckemeyer, Jost Henrich & Bräutigam, Rainer & Nicolay, Katharina & Klar, Oliver & Stutzenberger, Kathrin, 2016. "The effects of tax reforms to address the debt-equity bias on the cost of capital and on effective tax rates," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, volume 65, number 148156.
    18. N. Nazukova, 2015. "Theoretical framework on the assessment of the tax burden on capital investment," Economy and Forecasting, Valeriy Heyets, issue 2, pages 21-33.
    19. Ahmed Belouafi, 2014. "Islamic Finance and Financial Stability: A Review of Theoretical Literature التمويل الإسلامي والاستقرار المالي: مراجعة الأدبيات النظرية," Papers or presentations in the in-house seminars conducted by the Islamic Economics Institute, KAAU. 45, Islamic Economics Institute, King Abdulaziz University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; Financial sector; Debt; Allowance for Corporate Equity; Comprehensive Business Income Tax; corporate structure.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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