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International taxation and multinational firm location decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Salvador Barrios
  • Harry Huizinga
  • Luc Laeven
  • Gaëtan Nicodème

Abstract

Using a large international firm-level data set, we estimate separate effects of host and parent country taxation on the location decisions of multinational firms. Both types of taxation are estimated to have a negative impact on the location of new foreign subsidiaries. In fact, the impact of parent country taxation is estimated to be relatively large, possibly reflecting its international discriminatory nature. For the cross-section of multinational firms, we find that parent firms tend to be located in countries with a relatively low taxation of foreign-source income. Overall, our results show that parent-country taxation - despite the general possibility of deferral of taxation until income repatriation - is instrumental in shaping the structure of multinational enterprise.

Suggested Citation

  • Salvador Barrios & Harry Huizinga & Luc Laeven & Gaëtan Nicodème, 2009. "International taxation and multinational firm location decisions," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 356, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    • Handle: RePEc:euf:ecopap:0356
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International taxation and multinational firm location decisions; corporate taxation; dividend withholding taxation; location decisions; Barrios; Huizinga; Laeven; Nicodème;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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