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Can Corporate Income Tax Cuts Stimulate Innovation?

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  • Atanassov, Julian
  • Liu, Xiaoding

Abstract

We hypothesize that corporate income taxes distort firms’ incentives to innovate by reducing their pledgeable income. Using a differences-in-differences methodology, we document that large corporate income tax cuts boost corporate innovation. We find a similar but opposite effect for tax increases. Most of the change in innovation occurs 2 or more years after the tax change, and there’s no effect before the tax change. Exploring the mechanisms, we show that tax cuts have a stronger impact on innovation for firms with weaker governance, greater financial constraints, fewer tangible assets, smaller patent stock, and a greater degree of tax avoidance.

Suggested Citation

  • Atanassov, Julian & Liu, Xiaoding, 2020. "Can Corporate Income Tax Cuts Stimulate Innovation?," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(5), pages 1415-1465, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:55:y:2020:i:5:p:1415-1465_1
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