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Does Cancellation of Preferential Tax Policy Reduce Foreign Direct Investment Inflows?

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  • Zhi Luo
  • Chen Wang
  • Xun Zhang

Abstract

In light of recent tax cuts by the US, should China reintroduce a preferential tax policy to attract foreign direct investment? This paper investigates whether China's 2008 tax policy change affected inward foreign direct investment. In contrast to previous studies, we break foreign investment down into suspect and real foreign investment using firm‐level data from 1998 to 2008 and conduct a difference‐in‐difference estimation to determine the effect of the tax policy change on both types of foreign investment and compare these to the effect on domestic investment. The results show that the 2008 tax policy change reduced the amount of suspect foreign investment and its effect on real foreign investment was insignificant, indicating that foreign firms in China are more concerned with the investment environment and economic stability than taxes. Therefore, China should create a regulated business environment instead of readopting supernational treatment for foreign enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhi Luo & Chen Wang & Xun Zhang, 2018. "Does Cancellation of Preferential Tax Policy Reduce Foreign Direct Investment Inflows?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 26(6), pages 97-115, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:chinae:v:26:y:2018:i:6:p:97-115
    DOI: 10.1111/cwe.12263
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mutti, John & Grubert, Harry, 2004. "Empirical asymmetries in foreign direct investment and taxation," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 337-358, March.
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    3. Grubert, Harry & Mutti, John, 1991. "Taxes, Tariffs and Transfer Pricing in Multinational Corporate Decision Making," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 73(2), pages 285-293, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yaqi Wang & Jingxian Zou, 2022. "Impacts of dual tax system on foreign capital status," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 51-66, January.
    3. Bellak, Christian & Leibrecht, Markus & Chaisse, Julien, 2022. "Reforming International Investment Agreements," Department of Economics Working Paper Series 328, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    4. Hyung-Jong Na & Hyeon Kang & Hyang-Eun Lee, 2021. "Does Tax Incentives Affect Future Firm Value for Corporate Sustainability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Christian Bellak & Markus Leibrecht & Julien Chaisse, 2022. "Reforming International Investment Agreements: The Case of China and Foreign Direct Investment," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp328, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    6. Haichao Fan & Yu Liu & Suhua Tian & Xuan Wang, 2023. "Firm outward direct investment and multinational activity under domestic taxes," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 605-628, July.
    7. Peng, Fei & Wang, Ling & Peng, Langchuan & Wu, Huaqing, 2023. "Local government fiscal squeeze, environmental regulation and firms’ polluting behavior: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    8. Luo, Changyuan & Luo, Qin & Zeng, Shuai, 2022. "Bilateral tax agreement and FDI inflows: Evidence from Hong Kong investment in the Mainland China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).

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