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Is conventional wisdom about resource taxation correct? Mining evidence from transparency reporting

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  • Adebayo, Eric
  • Lashitew, Addisu A.
  • Werker, Eric

Abstract

This paper theoretically and empirically investigates the factors that determine the government “take” in gold mining projects around the world. We develop a theoretical model to predict the government take, which we define as the ratio of total payments to the government from a mining project (including taxes, fees, and royalties) relative to the mining company’s pre-tax net revenue from the same project. In line with investment decision theory, our model predicts that governments should decrease their take on mining operations to compensate multinational corporate investors for increased local development costs and political and macroeconomic risk. However, our empirical investigation shows that higher country risk is actually associated with greater government take. Extending the model, we find that political economy variables have as much predictive power in explaining the government take as the basic investment theory model.

Suggested Citation

  • Adebayo, Eric & Lashitew, Addisu A. & Werker, Eric, 2021. "Is conventional wisdom about resource taxation correct? Mining evidence from transparency reporting," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:146:y:2021:i:c:s0305750x21002126
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105597
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Saila Stausholm & Petr Janský & Marek Šedivý, 2022. "Illicit financial flows and country-by-country reporting in extractive industries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-76, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Lebdioui, Amir, 2021. "The Multidimensional Indicator of Extractives-based Development (MINDEX): A new approach to measuring resource wealth and dependence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Gao, Zhiyuan & Zhang, Yahui & Li, Lianqing & Hao, Yu, 2024. "Will resource tax reform raise green total factor productivity levels in cities? Evidence from 114 resource-based cities in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Ngassam, Sylvain B. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Ngueuleweu, Gildas Tiwang, 2024. "A revisit of the natural resource curse in the tourism industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    5. Ross, Michael L. & Werker, Eric, 2024. "Diversification in resource-rich Africa, 1999–2019," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Das, Khanindra Ch & Mahalik, Mantu Kumar & Sadorsky, Perry, 2023. "Tax provision by international subsidiaries of Indian extractive industry multinationals: Do environmental pollution and corruption matter?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    7. Amedanou, Isaac & Laporte, Bertrand, 2024. "Is the conventional wisdom on resource taxation correct? Mining evidence from African countries' tax legislations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

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