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Taxation, infrastructure, and firm performance in developing countries

Author

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  • Lisa Chauvet

    (UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Marin Ferry

    (LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ERUDITE - Equipe de Recherche sur l’Utilisation des Données Individuelles en lien avec la Théorie Economique - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 - Université Gustave Eiffel)

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between taxation and firm performance in developing countries. Combining firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys and tax data from the Government Revenue Dataset, our results suggest that taxation benefits firm growth in developing countries, especially in lower-income countries. This positive contribution of domestic revenue to firm performance seems to channel through the financing of the public infrastructure vital to firms operating in these countries. We also provide evidence that this positive effect disappears when corruption is too pervasive, and when the source of tax revenue reduces government accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Chauvet & Marin Ferry, 2021. "Taxation, infrastructure, and firm performance in developing countries," Post-Print halshs-03231532, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03231532
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-020-00788-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; Firm growth; Infrastructure; Corruption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O23 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Fiscal and Monetary Policy in Development
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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