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Debt shifting in Europe

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  • R. Miniaci
  • M. Parisi
  • P. Panteghini

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the link between subsidiary capital structure and taxation in Europe. First we have introduced a trade-off model, which looks at a MNC’s financial strategy and in particular debt shifting from low-tax to high-tax jurisdictions. By letting the MNC choose both leverage and the debt shifting percentage, we depart from the relevant literature which has mainly focused on the latter. Using the AMADEUS dataset we show that: (i) in line with the relevant literature, subsidiary leverage increases with its tax rate; (ii) contrary to previous work, the parent company tax rate does not have a negative effect on subsidiary leverage. More specifically, its effect is estimated to be nil when statutory tax rates are used. When however, effective marginal tax rates (EMTRs), accounting for cross-border effects, are used, the impact of parent company taxation on subsidiary leverage is positive. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Suggested Citation

  • R. Miniaci & M. Parisi & P. Panteghini, 2014. "Debt shifting in Europe," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 21(3), pages 397-435, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:itaxpf:v:21:y:2014:i:3:p:397-435
    DOI: 10.1007/s10797-012-9266-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Dave Goyvaerts & Annelies Roggeman, 2020. "The Impact of Thin Capitalization Rules on Subsidiary Financing: Evidence from Belgium," De Economist, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 23-51, March.
    2. Feld, Lars P. & Heckemeyer, Jost H. & Overesch, Michael, 2013. "Capital structure choice and company taxation: A meta-study," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 2850-2866.
    3. Francesco Cohen & Alessandro Fedele & Paolo M. Panteghini, 2016. "Corporate taxation and financial strategies under asymmetric information," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 33(1), pages 9-34, April.
    4. Jarkko Harju & Ilpo Kauppinen & Olli Ropponen, 2017. "Firm Responses to an Interest Barrier: Empirical Evidence," EconPol Working Paper 3, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    5. Raffaele Miniaci & Paolo Panteghini, 2021. "On the Capital Structure of Foreign Subsidiaries: Evidence from a Panel Data Quantile Regression Model," CESifo Working Paper Series 9085, CESifo.
    6. Nicola Comincioli & Paolo Panteghini & Sergio Vergalli, 2020. "Debt Shifting and Transfer Pricing in a Volatile World," CESifo Working Paper Series 8807, CESifo.
    7. von Hagen, Dominik & Harendt, Christoph, 2017. "Impact of controlled foreign corporation rules on post-acquisition investment and profit shifting in targets," ZEW Discussion Papers 17-062, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital structure; Default; Debt shifting; Multinationals; Taxation; G31; H25; H32;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm

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