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BT-to-VAT reform and firm productivity: Evidence from a quasi-experiment in China

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  • Yu, Jinliang
  • Qi, Yu

Abstract

China recently initiated a major tax reform to convert business tax to value-added tax (BT-to-VAT reform), which opened up the tax deduction chain between industries. We used difference-in-differences model and an administrative firm-level dataset from 2011 to 2017 to explore the effect of BT-to-VAT reform on productivity. We found that in contrast to control firms, this reform increased the productivity of the treated firms by 14.6% on average. The positive effects tended to be strengthened in private, large-scale, and capital-intensive firms, as well as in firms with tight financing constraints. Moreover, these positive results of the BT-to-VAT reform appeared to be driven by its positive effect on fixed asset investment, R&D expenditure, and specialization. These findings demonstrate the transformation of tax system has multiple economic effects in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu, Jinliang & Qi, Yu, 2022. "BT-to-VAT reform and firm productivity: Evidence from a quasi-experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:71:y:2022:i:c:s1043951x21001589
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101740
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bai, Caiquan & Liu, Hangjuan & Zhang, Rongjie & Feng, Chen, 2023. "Blessing or curse? Market-driven environmental regulation and enterprises' total factor productivity: Evidence from China's carbon market pilots," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    3. Lin, Gaoyi & Ma, Liuding & Liao, Hui & Li, Jingying, 2024. "Nothing comes for free: Evidence from a tax reduction of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Cui, Yadong & Jiang, Yaohui & Zhang, Zhaowen & Xu, Su, 2023. "Tax reduction, technological progress, and energy efficiency improvement: A quasi-natural experiment from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 618-633.
    5. 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.
    6. Chen, Zhongfei & Jiang, Kangqi, 2024. "Digitalization and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Jie Qin & Kaili Yang & Xuhui Ding, 2023. "Can the Reform of the Transfer Tax System Affect Corporate Green Innovation—Evidence from China’s “BT to VAT” Reform," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Value-added tax; Business tax; Productivity; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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