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Foreign investors' interests and corporate tax avoidance: Evidence from an emerging economy

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  • Salihu, Ibrahim Aramide
  • Annuar, Hairul Azlan
  • Sheikh Obid, Siti Normala

Abstract

Foreign investment inflows into developing countries has become a cause for concern, as the opportunity for profit shifting across their various operating outlets has made multinational companies tax avoidant in host countries. Thus, this study examines the tax impact of foreign investors' interests within a host developing economy. The sample data were extracted from annual reports of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Top 100 firms for the financial periods of 2009, 2010 and 2011. Using four similar measures of tax avoidance and three related measures of foreign investors' interest, our analysis of the dynamic panel data with a system GMM estimator shows significant positive relationships between foreign investors' interests and the measures of corporate tax avoidance among large Malaysian companies. This result suggests the possibility of multinational companies exploiting their international scales of operations to avoid taxes in both host and parent countries. Thus, emerging economies need to consider the residual benefits of foreign direct investment in the presence of such tax avoidance in their pursuit of economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Salihu, Ibrahim Aramide & Annuar, Hairul Azlan & Sheikh Obid, Siti Normala, 2015. "Foreign investors' interests and corporate tax avoidance: Evidence from an emerging economy," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 138-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:11:y:2015:i:2:p:138-147
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcae.2015.03.001
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    4. Kovermann, Jost & Velte, Patrick, 2019. "The impact of corporate governance on corporate tax avoidance—A literature review," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 1-1.
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    6. Joshua Aronmwan, Edosa & Okafor, Chinwuba, 2019. "Corporate Tax Avoidance: Review Of Measures And Prospects," International Journal of Contemporary Accounting Issues-IJCAI (formerly International Journal of Accounting & Finance IJAF), The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), vol. 8(2), pages 21-42, September.
    7. Junjian Gu, 2022. "Country Portfolio and Taxation: Evidence from Japan," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 583-607, January.
    8. He Xiao & Jianqun Xi, 2023. "The Impact of Institutional Cross‐ownership on Corporate Tax Avoidance: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 33(1), pages 86-105, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign direct investments; Tax avoidance; System GMM estimator; Developing economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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