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Taxation and the quality of entrepreneurship

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  • Andrea Asoni
  • Tino Sanandaji

Abstract

We study the effect of taxation on entrepreneurship, investigating how taxes affect both the number of start-ups and their average quality. We show theoretically that even with risk neutral agents and no tax evasion progressive taxes can increase entrepreneurial entry, while reducing average firm quality. So called “success taxes” encourage start-ups with lower value business ideas by reducing the option value of pursuing better projects. This suggests that the most common measure used in the literature, the likelihood of entry into self-employment, may underestimate the adverse effect of taxation. Copyright Springer-Verlag Wien 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Asoni & Tino Sanandaji, 2014. "Taxation and the quality of entrepreneurship," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 113(2), pages 101-123, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jeczfn:v:113:y:2014:i:2:p:101-123
    DOI: 10.1007/s00712-013-0375-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Frank M. Fossen & Ray Rees & Davud Rostam-Afschar & Viktor Steiner, 2020. "The effects of income taxation on entrepreneurial investment: A puzzle?," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(6), pages 1321-1363, December.
    2. Eleftherios Giovanis & Oznur Ozdamar, 2022. "The nexus between business–investment climate and firm performance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region," Review of Economics and Political Science, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(4), pages 257-285, February.
    3. Magnus Henrekson & Tino Sanandaji, 2011. "Entrepreneurship and the theory of taxation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 167-185, September.
    4. Teodora Roman & Nicu Marcu & Valentina Diana Rusu & Erika Maria Doacă & Adelina Andreea Siriteanu, 2023. "Tax Payment and the Performance of SMEs: A Longitudinal Analysis on EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Magnus Henrekson & Dan Johansson & Mikael Stenkula, 2010. "Taxation, Labor Market Policy and High-Impact Entrepreneurship," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 275-296, September.
    6. Mina Baliamoune-Lutz & Pierre Garello, 2014. "Tax structure and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 165-190, January.
    7. Jack Mintz & Patrick Smith & V. Balaji Venkatachalam, 2021. "A New Approach to Improving Small-Business Tax Competitiveness," SPP Research Papers, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, vol. 14(24), October.
    8. Haufler, Andreas & Norbäck, Pehr-Johan & Persson, Lars, 2014. "Entrepreneurial innovations and taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 13-31.
    9. Peter Ericson & Johan Fall, 2011. "Taxation of closely held corporations efficiency aspects," International Journal of Microsimulation, International Microsimulation Association, vol. 4(2), pages 27-40.
    10. Gordon, Roger & Sarada,, 2018. "How should taxes be designed to encourage entrepreneurship?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1-11.
    11. Pontus Braunerhjelm & Magnus Henrekson, 2013. "Entrepreneurship, institutions, and economic dynamism: lessons from a comparison of the United States and Sweden," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 22(1), pages 107-130, February.
    12. Shulin Xu & Kangqi Jiang, 2024. "Knowledge creates value: the role of financial literacy in entrepreneurial behavior," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    13. Gordon, Roger H & Sarada,, 2017. "How Should Taxes Be Designed to Encourage Entrepreneurship?," University of California at San Diego, Economics Working Paper Series qt86z3h4n4, Department of Economics, UC San Diego.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; Entrepreneurial entry; Quality of entrepreneurial firms; H24; H25; L26;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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