IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/ecopln/v57y2024i3d10.1007_s10644-024-09709-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do institutions advocate tax simplification? Insights from a panel of 88 countries

Author

Listed:
  • Pham Thai Binh

    (University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City)

  • Trang Thi Thuy Nguyen

    (Van Lang University)

Abstract

The complexity of taxes has been widely discussed in the literature and can be defined and measured in various ways depending on one’s perspective. Institutions play a crucial role in shaping the strategic environment and understanding them is crucial in understanding the policy process. When designing taxes, it is vital to consider how institutions influence tax complexity. In this empirical study, we take an institutional approach to examine what extent the institutional quality supports the tax simplification process. Using the system generalised method of moments (system GMM) for a dynamic panel of 88 countries, we show that higher institutional quality seems to be associated with a lower degree of tax complexity, regardless of income levels and legal origins. These findings are robustly consistent across a variety of specifications and institutional measurements. To that end, we make policy recommendations on tax administration.

Suggested Citation

  • Pham Thai Binh & Trang Thi Thuy Nguyen, 2024. "Do institutions advocate tax simplification? Insights from a panel of 88 countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1-39, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ecopln:v:57:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10644-024-09709-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10644-024-09709-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10644-024-09709-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10644-024-09709-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hansen, Lars Peter, 1982. "Large Sample Properties of Generalized Method of Moments Estimators," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 1029-1054, July.
    2. Bruno, Randolph Luca, 2019. "Tax enforcement, tax compliance and tax morale in transition economies: A theoretical model," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 193-211.
    3. Arellano, Manuel & Bover, Olympia, 1995. "Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 29-51, July.
    4. Yaron Zelekha, 2017. "Tax Complexity and Corruption," Applied Economics Quarterly (formerly: Konjunkturpolitik), Duncker & Humblot GmbH, Berlin, vol. 63(2), pages 177-210.
    5. Shirley J. Daniel & Joshua K. Cieslewicz & Hamid Pourjalali, 2012. "The Impact of National Economic Culture and Country-Level Institutional Environment on Corporate Governance Practices," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 365-394, June.
    6. Ahir, Hites & Bloom, Nicholas & Furceri, Davide, 2022. "The world uncertainty index," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117833, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Bermpei, Theodora & Kalyvas, Antonios & Nguyen, Thanh Cong, 2018. "Does institutional quality condition the effect of bank regulations and supervision on bank stability? Evidence from emerging and developing economies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 255-275.
    8. Cuccia, Andrew D. & Carnes, Gregory A., 2001. "A closer look at the relation between tax complexity and tax equity perceptions," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 113-140, April.
    9. Slemrod, Joel & Yitzhaki, Shlomo, 2002. "Tax avoidance, evasion, and administration," Handbook of Public Economics, in: A. J. Auerbach & M. Feldstein (ed.), Handbook of Public Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 22, pages 1423-1470, Elsevier.
    10. Gwartney, James & Lawson, Robert, 2003. "The concept and measurement of economic freedom," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 405-430, September.
    11. José Antonio Alonso & Carlos Garcimartín, 2013. "The Determinants Of Institutional Quality. More On The Debate," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(2), pages 206-226, March.
    12. Pontus Braunerhjelm & Johan E. Eklund, 2014. "Taxes, tax administrative burdens and new firm formation," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(1), pages 1-11, February.
    13. Acemoglu, Daron & Johnson, Simon & Robinson, James A., 2005. "Institutions as a Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 6, pages 385-472, Elsevier.
    14. Joel Slemrod, 2005. "The Etiology of Tax Complexity: Evidence from U.S. State Income Tax Systems," Public Finance Review, , vol. 33(3), pages 279-299, May.
    15. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    16. Zergawu, Yitagesu Zewdu & Walle, Yabibal M. & Giménez-Gómez, José-Manuel, 2020. "The joint impact of infrastructure and institutions on economic growth," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(4), pages 481-502, August.
    17. Alm, James & Jackson, Betty & McKee, Michael, 1992. "Institutional Uncertainty and Taxpayer Compliance," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(4), pages 1018-1026, September.
    18. Ricciuti, Roberto & Savoia, Antonio & Sen, Kunal, 2019. "How do political institutions affect fiscal capacity? Explaining taxation in developing economies," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(2), pages 351-380, April.
    19. Thomas Hoppe & Deborah Schanz & Susann Sturm & Caren Sureth-Sloane, 2023. "The Tax Complexity Index – A Survey-Based Country Measure of Tax Code and Framework Complexity," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 239-273, March.
    20. Mills, Lillian F., 1996. "Corporate Tax Compliance and Financial Reporting," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 49(3), pages 421-433, September.
    21. Danisman, Gamze Ozturk & Ersan, Oguz & Demir, Ender, 2020. "Economic policy uncertainty and bank credit growth: Evidence from European banks," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 57.
    22. Lars Leszczensky & Tobias Wolbring, 2022. "How to Deal With Reverse Causality Using Panel Data? Recommendations for Researchers Based on a Simulation Study," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 51(2), pages 837-865, May.
    23. Oliver E. Ogbonna & Jonathan E. Ogbuabor & Charles O. Manasseh & Davidmac O. Ekeocha, 2022. "Global uncertainty, economic governance institutions and foreign direct investment inflow in Africa," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 2111-2136, November.
    24. Sebastian Eichfelder & François Vaillancourt, 2014. "Tax Compliance Costs: A Review of Cost Burdens and Cost Structures," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 210(3), pages 111-148, September.
    25. Forest, Adam & Sheffrin, Steven M., 2002. "Complexity and Compliance: An Empirical Investigation," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 55(1), pages 75-88, March.
    26. Arvin, Mak B. & Pradhan, Rudra P. & Nair, Mahendhiran S., 2021. "Are there links between institutional quality, government expenditure, tax revenue and economic growth? Evidence from low-income and lower middle-income countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 468-489.
    27. Yongzheng Liu & Haibo Feng, 2015. "Tax structure and corruption: cross-country evidence," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 57-78, January.
    28. Damián Vergara, 2022. "Do policies and institutions matter for pre-tax income inequality? Cross-country evidence," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(1), pages 30-52, February.
    29. Kelly Edmiston & Shannon Mudd & Neven Valev, 2003. "Tax Structures and FDI: The Deterrent Effects of Complexity and Uncertainty," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 24(3), pages 341-359, September.
    30. Ms. Anja Baum & Mr. Sanjeev Gupta & Elijah Kimani & Mr. Sampawende J Tapsoba, 2017. "Corruption, Taxes and Compliance," IMF Working Papers 2017/255, International Monetary Fund.
    31. Daron Acemoglu & Francisco A. Gallego & James A. Robinson, 2014. "Institutions, Human Capital, and Development ," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 875-912, August.
    32. Andrés Fernández & César E. Tamayo, 2017. "From Institutions To Financial Development And Growth: What Are The Links?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 17-57, February.
    33. Agoba, Abel Mawuko & Agbloyor, Elikplimi & Gyeke-Dako, Afua Agyapomaa & Acquah, Mac-Clara, 2020. "Financial globalization and institutions in Africa: the case of foreign direct investment, central bank independence and political institutions," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(6), pages 931-953, December.
    34. Martina Lawless, 2013. "Do Complicated Tax Systems Prevent Foreign Direct Investment?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 80(317), pages 1-22, January.
    35. Torgler, Benno & Demir, Ihsan C. & Macintyre, Alison & Schaffner, Markus, 2008. "Causes and Consequences of Tax Morale: An Empirical Investigation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 313-339, September.
    36. Scotchmer, Suzanne, 1989. "Who profits from taxpayer confusion?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 49-55.
    37. Nickell, Stephen J, 1981. "Biases in Dynamic Models with Fixed Effects," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 49(6), pages 1417-1426, November.
    38. Joel B. Slemrod & Marsha Blumenthal, 1996. "The Income Tax Compliance Cost of Big Business," Public Finance Review, , vol. 24(4), pages 411-438, October.
    39. Milliron, Vc, 1985. "A Behavioral-Study Of The Meaning And Influence Of Tax Complexity," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 794-816.
    40. Benno Torgler & Markus Schaffner & Alison Macintyre, 2007. "Tax Compliance, Tax Morale and Governance Quality," CREMA Working Paper Series 2007-17, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    41. Rajul Awasthi & Nihal Bayraktar, 2015. "Can tax simplification help lower tax corruption?," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(2), pages 297-330, December.
    42. Benno Torgler & Markus Schaffner & Alison Macintyre, 2007. "Tax Compliance, Tax Morale and Governance Quality," CREMA Working Paper Series 2007-17, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    43. Forest, Adam & Sheffrin, Steven M., 2002. "Complexity and Compliance: An Empirical Investigation," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association, vol. 55(N. 1), pages 75-88, March.
    44. Gozgor, Giray & Demir, Ender & Belas, Jaroslav & Yesilyurt, Serkan, 2019. "Does economic uncertainty affect domestic credits? an empirical investigation," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    45. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    46. Mills, Lillian F., 1996. "Corporate Tax Compliance and Financial Reporting," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association, vol. 49(3), pages 421-33, September.
    47. Hall, Peter A. & Taylor, Rosemary C. R., 1996. "Political science and the three new institutionalisms," MPIfG Discussion Paper 96/6, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    48. Judith Freedman, 2015. "Managing tax complexity: the institutional framework for tax policy-making and oversight," Working Papers 1508, Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation.
    49. Binh Tran‐Nam & Chris Evans, 2014. "Towards the Development of a Tax System Complexity Index," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 35, pages 341-370, September.
    50. Windmeijer, Frank, 2005. "A finite sample correction for the variance of linear efficient two-step GMM estimators," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 126(1), pages 25-51, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rajul Awasthi & Nihal Bayraktar, 2015. "Can tax simplification help lower tax corruption?," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(2), pages 297-330, December.
    2. Awasthi, Rajul & Bayraktar, Nihal, 2014. "Can tax simplification help lower tax corruption ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6988, The World Bank.
    3. Nihal Bayraktar, 2016. "Tax simplification and tax efficiency," EcoMod2016 9100, EcoMod.
    4. Nguyen, Trang Thi Thuy & Pham, Binh Thai & Prior, Diego & van Hemmen, Stefan, 2022. "Performance of tax simplification around the world: A panel frontier analysis," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    5. Ansgar Belke & Holger Zemanek & Gunther Schnabl, 2010. "Current Account Balances and Structural Adjustment in the Euro Area," Ruhr Economic Papers 0176, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
    6. repec:zbw:rwirep:0176 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Holger Zemanek & Ansgar Belke & Gunther Schnabl, 2010. "Current account balances and structural adjustment in the euro area," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 83-127, May.
    8. Avom, Désiré & Kamguia, Brice & Ngameni, Joseph Pasky & Njangang, Henri, 2021. "How does terms of trade volatility affect macroeconomic volatility? The roles of financial development and institutions," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 98-114.
    9. Hoppe, Thomas & Schanz, Deborah & Sturm, Susann & Sureth, Caren, 2019. "Measuring tax complexity across countries: A survey study on MNCs," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 245, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    10. Eric Akobeng, 2017. "Gross Capital Formation, Institutions and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 136-164, April.
    11. Guglielmo Maria Caporale & Anamaria Diana Sova & Robert Sova, 2024. "The Covid‐19 pandemic and European trade flows: Evidence from a dynamic panel model," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2563-2580, July.
    12. Zheng, Xinye & Li, Fanghua & Song, Shunfeng & Yu, Yihua, 2013. "Central government's infrastructure investment across Chinese regions: A dynamic spatial panel data approach," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 264-276.
    13. Schneider, Sophie Therese, 2018. "North-South trade agreements and the quality of institutions: Panel data evidence," Hohenheim Discussion Papers in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 27-2018, University of Hohenheim, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.
    14. Piotr Gretszel & Henryk Gurgul & £ukasz Lach & Stefan Schleicher, 2020. "Testing for the economic and environmental impacts of EU Emissions Trading System: A panel GMM approach," Managerial Economics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Management, vol. 21(2), pages 99-125.
    15. Orkhan Nadirov & Bruce Dehning, 2020. "Tax Progressivity and Entrepreneurial Dynamics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, April.
    16. Rahman, Mizanur, 2008. "The Impact of a Common Currency on East Asian Production Networks and China’s Exports Behavior," MPRA Paper 13931, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Kodjo Adandohoin & Jean-Francois Brun, 2020. "Are incomes and property taxes effective instruments for tax transition?," CERDI Working papers hal-03053683, HAL.
    18. Mateo Zokalj, 2016. "The impact of population aging on public finance in the European Union," Financial Theory and Practice, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 40(4), pages 383-412.
    19. Vijay Aseervatham & Patricia Born & Dominik Lohmaier & Andreas Richter, 2017. "Hazard-Specific Supply Reactions in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 42(2), pages 193-225, April.
    20. Kodjo Adandohoin & Jean-Francois Brun, 2020. "Are incomes and property taxes effective instruments for tax transition?," Working Papers hal-03053683, HAL.
    21. Tadadjeu, Sosson & Njangang, Henri & Asongu, Simplice A. & Kamguia, Brice, 2023. "Natural resources, child mortality and governance quality in African countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax complexity; Tax simplification; Tax administration; Public governance; Institutional quality; System GMM;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:ecopln:v:57:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10644-024-09709-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.