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INVESTMENT IRREVERSIBILITY AND ENDOGENOUS FINANCING: An Evaluation of the Corporate Tax Effects

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  • Miquel Faig
  • Pauline Shum

Abstract

We evaluate the effects of corporate taxation on firms' investment and financing choices. We focus on how the asymmetry of the corporate tax, imperfect loss carry-overs, endogenous financing with credit constraints, and different degrees of investment irreversibility affect both incremental investment and entry decisions. We find that, as long as capital can be financed with debt at the margin, the tax distortions on the marginal investment decision are small. This is particularly so if the technology is flexible. In contrast, the tax distortions on the entry decision are substantial. The ability of firms to carry over their losses and choose their financial structure endogenously are important for reducing both types of distortions.

Suggested Citation

  • Miquel Faig & Pauline Shum, 1997. "INVESTMENT IRREVERSIBILITY AND ENDOGENOUS FINANCING: An Evaluation of the Corporate Tax Effects," Working Papers faig-97-02, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tor:tecipa:faig-97-02
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Norman Schurhoff, 2004. "Capital gains taxes, irreversible investment, and capital structure," 2004 Meeting Papers 592b, Society for Economic Dynamics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Irreversible investment; corporate finance; assymetric taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • 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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