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Lessons from the Biggest Business Tax Cut in US History

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Chodorow-Reich
  • Owen Zidar
  • Eric Zwick

Abstract

We assess the business provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the biggest corporate tax cut in US history. We draw five lessons. First, corporate tax revenue fell by 40 percent due to the lower rate and more generous expensing. Second, firms with larger declines in their effective tax wedge increased investment relatively more. In aggregate, we suggest a loose consensus from the literature that total tangible corporate investment increased by 11 percent. Third, the business tax provisions increased economic growth and wages by less than advertised by the Act's proponents, with long-run GDP higher by less than 1 percent and labor income by less than $1,000 per employee. Fourth, provisions that increase foreign investment by US-based multinationals also boost their domestic operations. Fifth, some of the expired and expiring provisions, such as accelerated depreciation, generate more investment per dollar of tax revenue than others.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Chodorow-Reich & Owen Zidar & Eric Zwick, 2024. "Lessons from the Biggest Business Tax Cut in US History," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 61-88, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:38:y:2024:i:3:p:61-88
    DOI: 10.1257/jep.38.3.61
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    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • K34 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Tax Law

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