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Observable Depreciation Deductions and the Effective Marginal Tax Burden on Investment

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  • Becker Johannes
  • Fuest Clemens

    (Cologne Center for Public Economics, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, D-50923, Cologne, Germany)

Abstract

Forward-looking measures like the well-known effective marginal tax rate developed by King and Fullerton (1984) rely strongly on standardized assumptions on the effective use of depreciation deductions. This paper derives a method of assessing these assumptions empirically and of quantifying the bias resulting from simplifying assumptions. Using a balanced panel of German firms we calculate the path of depreciation deductions that should be observed if the assumptions on depreciation allowances were correct. These hypothetical deductions are compared to the observable ones in the data. We find that observable deductions slightly exceed the hypothetical ones. Moreover, we find a considerable degree of heterogeneity in the actual use of depreciation deductions across firms. On the basis of these results we calculate an adjusted effective marginal tax rate. It turns out that even small estimation biases in determining the tax deductions have a large impact on the effective tax rates for marginal investment projects. We conclude that forward-looking measures can and should be assessed empirically and that future research should emphasize the heterogenous impact of tax-related disincentives on business investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Becker Johannes & Fuest Clemens, 2006. "Observable Depreciation Deductions and the Effective Marginal Tax Burden on Investment," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 226(4), pages 346-360, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:226:y:2006:i:4:p:346-360
    DOI: 10.1515/jbnst-2006-0402
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Devereux, Michael P & Griffith, Rachel, 2003. "Evaluating Tax Policy for Location Decisions," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 10(2), pages 107-126, March.
    2. King, Mervyn A. & Fullerton, Don, 2010. "The Taxation of Income from Capital," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226436319, November.
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    4. Aarbu, Karl Ove & MacKie-Mason, Jeffrey K, 2003. "Explaining Underutilization of Tax Depreciation Deductions: Empirical Evidence from Norway," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 10(3), pages 229-257, May.
    5. Roger Gordon & Laura Kalambokidis & Joel Slemrod, 2003. "A New Summary Measure of the Effective Tax Rate on Investment," NBER Working Papers 9535, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Mendoza, Enrique G. & Razin, Assaf & Tesar, Linda L., 1994. "Effective tax rates in macroeconomics: Cross-country estimates of tax rates on factor incomes and consumption," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 297-323, December.
    7. Johannes Becker & Clemens Fuest, 2005. "Does Germany collect revenue from taxing the normal return to capital?," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 26(4), pages 491-511, December.
    8. Johannes Becker & Clemens Fuest, 2006. "Ist Deutschland Hoch‐ oder Niedrigsteuerland? Der Versuch einer Synthese," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 7(1), pages 35-42, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johannes Becker & Clemens Fuest & Christoph Spengel, 2006. "Konzernsteuerquote und Investitionsverhalten," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 730-742, September.

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    Effective tax rates; corporate taxation;

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