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Capital taxation and imperfect competition: ACE vs. CBIT

Author

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  • Kurt R. Brekke

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Armando J. Garcia Pires

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Dirk Schindler

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Guttorm Schjelderup

    (Norwegian School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper studies the market and welfare effects of two main tax reforms – the Comprehensive Business Income Tax (CBIT) and the Allowance for Corporate Equity tax (ACE). Using an imperfect-competition model for a small open economy, it is shown that the well-known neutrality property of ACE does not hold. Both corporate tax regimes distort market entry and equilibrium prices. A main result is that a small open economy should levy a positive source tax on capital in markets with free firm entry. Which tax system is better from a welfare point of view, depends on production technology, the competitive effects of ACE and CBIT, and whether entry is excessive or suboptimal at the given corporate tax rate. Imposing tax revenue neutrality yields a higher corporate tax rate with ACE, which increases the scope for CBIT to be welfare improving.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurt R. Brekke & Armando J. Garcia Pires & Dirk Schindler & Guttorm Schjelderup, 2015. "Capital taxation and imperfect competition: ACE vs. CBIT," Working Papers 2015/27, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    • Handle: RePEc:ieb:wpaper:doc2015-27
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    Cited by:

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    3. Thomas A., Gresik & Schjelderup, Guttorm, 2022. "Tax induced transfer pricing under universal adoption of the destination-based cash-flow tax," Discussion Papers 2022/8, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    4. Gresik, Thomas A., 2016. "Allowing firms to choose between separate accounting and formula apportionment taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 32-42.
    5. Petutschnig, Matthias & Rünger, Silke, 2017. "The effects of a tax allowance for growth and investment: Empirical evidence from a firm-level analysis," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 221, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    6. Avdiu, Besart, 2018. "Optimal capital and labor income taxation in small and developing countries," MPRA Paper 84884, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Mooij Ruud De & Hebous Shafik & Hrdinkova Milena, 2018. "Growth-Enhancing Corporate Tax Reform in Belgium," Nordic Tax Journal, Sciendo, vol. 2018(1), pages 1-17, January.
    8. Bournakis, Ioannis & Mallick, Sushanta, 2018. "TFP estimation at firm level: The fiscal aspect of productivity convergence in the UK," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 579-590.
    9. Philipp J. H. Schröder & Allan Sørensen, 2023. "Corporate taxation when firms are heterogeneous: ACE versus CBIT," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(2), pages 396-418, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimal corporate taxation; corporate tax reform; imperfect competition; ACE; CBIT;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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