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Corporate tax avoidance and sales: micro evidence and aggregate implications

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  • Martin, Julien
  • Toubal, Farid

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of corporate tax avoidance (CTA) on firm-level sales, and its aggregate implications. CTA gives a competitive advantage to avoiding firms, which affects the distribution of sales in the economy. Using three identification strategies, we find a causal impact of CTA on sales in US firm-level data. In the US, CTA increased more among the largest firms, which has reinforced their dominant position. In key industries, trends in CTA firms explain 10%-30% of the increase in concentration from 1994 to 2017. Further analysis shows the impact of CTA-induced distortions on industrial output is relevant at a macroeconomic scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin, Julien & Toubal, Farid, 2020. "Corporate tax avoidance and sales: micro evidence and aggregate implications," CEPR Discussion Papers 15060, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15060
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tommaso Bighelli & Filippo di Mauro & Marc J Melitz & Matthias Mertens, 2023. "European Firm Concentration and Aggregate Productivity," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 21(2), pages 455-483.
    3. Sánchez-Ballesta, Juan Pedro & Yagüe, José, 2023. "Tax avoidance and the cost of debt for SMEs: Evidence from Spain," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(2).
    4. Coppier, Raffaella & Michetti, Elisabetta & Scaccia, Luisa, 2024. "Dimensional traps in evasion models and their effects on industrial structure," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    5. Gauß, P. & Kortenhaus, M. & Riedel, N. & Simmler, M., 2024. "Leveling the playing field: Constraints on multinational profit shifting and the performance of national firms," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    6. Annette Alstadsæter & Julie Brun Bjørkheim & Ronald B. Davies & Johannes Scheuerer, 2022. "Pennies from Haven: Wages and Profit Shifting," CESifo Working Paper Series 9590, CESifo.
    7. Jean-Charles Bricongne & Samuel Delpeuch & Margarita Lopez Forero, 2021. "Regional Productivity Slowdown, Tax Havens and MNEs’ Intangibles: where is Measured Value Creation?," Working papers 835, Banque de France.
    8. Joana Garcia, 2022. "Multinationals and services imports from havens: when policies stand in the way of tax planning," Working Papers w202214, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    9. Aleksi Eerola & Arjen H. L. Slangen, 2022. "A Review of International Management Research on Corporate Taxation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(5), pages 643-680, October.
    10. Jean-Charles Bricongne & Samuel Delpeuch & Margarita Lopez Forero, 2021. "Productivity Slowdown, Tax Havens and MNEs’ Intangibles: where is measured value creation?," Documents de recherche 21-01, Centre d'Études des Politiques Économiques (EPEE), Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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