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Payout Taxes and the Allocation of Investment

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  • Bo Becker
  • Marcus Jacob
  • Martin Jacob

Abstract

When corporate payout is taxed, internal equity (retained earnings) is cheaper than external equity (share issues). High taxes will favor firms who can finance internally. If there are no perfect substitutes for equity finance, payout taxes may thus change the investment behavior of firms. Using an international panel with many changes in payout taxes, we show that this prediction holds well. Payout taxes have a large impact on the dynamics of corporate investment and growth. Investment is "locked in" in profitable firms when payout is heavily taxed. Thus, apart from any aggregate effects, payout taxes change the allocation of capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Becker & Marcus Jacob & Martin Jacob, 2011. "Payout Taxes and the Allocation of Investment," NBER Working Papers 17481, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:17481
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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