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The Effects of the Value-Added Tax on Revenue and Inequality

Author

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  • Kaisa Alavuotunki
  • Mika Haapanen
  • Jukka Pirttilä

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the introduction of the value-added tax on inequality and government revenues using newly released macro data. We present both conventional country fixed effect regressions and instrumental variable analyses, where VAT adoption is instrumented using the previous values of neighbouring countries’ VAT systems as an instrument. The results reveal – in contrast to earlier work – that the revenue consequences of the VAT have not been positive. The results indicate that income-based inequality has increased due to the VAT adoption, whereas consumption inequality has remained unaffected.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaisa Alavuotunki & Mika Haapanen & Jukka Pirttilä, 2019. "The Effects of the Value-Added Tax on Revenue and Inequality," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 490-508, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:55:y:2019:i:4:p:490-508
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2017.1400015
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    Cited by:

    1. Yawei Qi & Wenxiang Peng & Neal N. Xiong, 2020. "The Effects of Fiscal and Tax Incentives on Regional Innovation Capability: Text Extraction Based on Python," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Giulia Mascagni & Roel Dom & Fabrizio Santoro & Denis Mukama, 2023. "The VAT in practice: equity, enforcement, and complexity," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(2), pages 525-563, April.
    3. Warwick, Ross & Harris, Tom & Phillips, David & Goldman, Maya & Jellema, Jon & Inchauste, Gabriela & Goraus-Tańska, Karolina, 2022. "The redistributive power of cash transfers vs VAT exemptions: A multi-country study," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Kodjo Adandohoin, 2021. "Tax transition in developing countries: do value added tax and excises really work?," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 379-424, May.
    5. Abdulaleem Isiaka & Alexander Mihailov & Giovanni Razzi, 2022. "Distributional Effects of Public Spending and Tax Shocks in Middle-Income Countries: A Panel VAR Approach," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2022-09, Department of Economics, University of Reading.
    6. Mahfoudh Hussein Mgammal & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Talal Fawzi Alruwaili, 2023. "Value-added-tax rate increases: A comparative study using difference-in-difference with an ARIMA modeling approach," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2022. "Internet, Participation in International Trade, and Tax Revenue Instability," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 37(2), pages 267-315.
    8. Hrushikesh Mallick, 2024. "Role of ICT, Governance Quality in Indirect Tax Revenue Productivity: A Comparative Analysis of Two Recent Indirect Tax Regimes in Indian States," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 13(1), pages 7-38, June.
    9. Gwaindepi, Abel, 2019. "Domestic revenue mobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America: A comparative analysis since 1980," Lund Papers in Economic History 209, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    10. Harsha Konara Mudiyanselage & Shawn Xiaoguang Chen, 2022. "What impairs the ‘money machine’ of VAT in developing countries?," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(5), pages 1128-1159, October.
    11. Wolf, Rayan & Mohamed, Abdoulaye Aboubacari & Gomes, Fabrício Sepulveda & Gurgel, Angelo Costa & Teixeira, Erly c., 2021. "Impacts of a Tax Elimination on Consumption of Food and Agricultural Products in Brazil," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314958, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Kristina Stefanova, 2024. "Public Sector Impact on Income Inequality in CEE Countries," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 78-97.
    13. Gervasio SEMEDO & Bertrand LAPORTE & Asbath ALASSANI, 2022. "How does tax structure affect income inequality? Empirical evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2960, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.
    14. Tommaso Giommoni & Gabriel Loumeau, 2022. "Taxation with a Grain of Salt: The Long-Term Effect of Fiscal Policy on Local Development," CESifo Working Paper Series 9997, CESifo.
    15. Vanesa Jorda & Jose M. Alonso, 2020. "What works to mitigate and reduce relative (and absolute) inequality?: A systematic review," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-152, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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