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The effect of value-added tax on leverage: Evidence from China’s value-added tax reform

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  • Zou, Jingxian
  • Shen, Guangjun
  • Gong, Yaxian

Abstract

In this paper, we use China’s value-added tax (VAT) reform in 2007, which was aimed to encourage fixed investment purchasing, as a natural experiment to explore the effect on firm financial leverage. Results show an expansion in firm balance sheet after the reform, manifested by greater liabilities (long-term, short-term and total liability) and asset. Moreover, in terms of the ratio to asset, it’s found that long-term liability rose while the short-term liability dropped, and as a net effect, the total asset-liability ratio declined as the latter effect dominated. To theoretically explain the observed patterns, three mechanisms are highlighted, “income effect”, “maturity-match effect” and “market disciplining effect”, where income effect corresponds to a proportional expansion of balance sheet while the latter two effects alter the composition of firm leverage.

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  • Zou, Jingxian & Shen, Guangjun & Gong, Yaxian, 2019. "The effect of value-added tax on leverage: Evidence from China’s value-added tax reform," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 135-146.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:54:y:2019:i:c:p:135-146
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2018.10.013
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mahfoudh Hussein Mgammal & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Talal Fawzi Alruwaili, 2023. "Value-added-tax rate increases: A comparative study using difference-in-difference with an ARIMA modeling approach," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
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    5. Fei Peng & Langchuan Peng & Jie Mao & Peng Lu, 2021. "The Short-Run Effect of a Local Fiscal Squeeze on Pollution Abatement Expenditures: Evidence from China’s VAT Pilot Program," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 78(3), pages 453-485, March.
    6. He, Fan & Zeng, Xin & Xue, Jingwen & Xu, Jianbin, 2024. "The hidden cost of corporate tax cuts: Evidence from worker health in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
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    8. Halkawt Ismail Mohammed Amin & Kemal Cek, 2023. "The Effect of Golden Ratio-Based Capital Structure on Firm’s Financial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Chen, Zhongfei & Xiao, Yu & Jiang, Kangqi, 2023. "The impact of tax reform on firms' digitalization in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    10. Jia, Zhijie, 2023. "The hidden benefit: Emission trading scheme and business performance of downstream enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    11. Yan Du & Mengkai Yang & Jing Li & Yunong Li, 2020. "The Stagnant Export Upgrading in Northeast China: Evidence from Value‐added Tax Reform," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 28(4), pages 101-126, July.
    12. Zhang, Dongyang, 2019. "Can export tax rebate alleviate financial constraint to increase firm productivity? Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 529-540.
    13. Jiayi Du & Guangjun Shen & Jingxian Zou, 2023. "Tax incentives and firm financing structures: evidence from China’s accelerated depreciation policy," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(5), pages 1346-1373, October.
    14. Liu, Xiufen & Fang, Hongsheng & Zhao, Lexin & Xu, Wenli, 2023. "Do VAT cuts help stabilize employment? Evidence from China’s VAT rate reform," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 190-207.
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    17. Teng Zhang & Qiuyao Fu & Chunhui Zhu, 2022. "Trade liberalization, credit constraints, and export quality upgrading," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 499-524, July.

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