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Who Benefits from Reducing the Cost of Formality? Quantile Regression Discontinuity Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso Gabrieli

    (School of Real Estate & Planning, Henley Business School, University of Reading)

  • Antonio F. Galvao, Jr.

    (University of Iowa)

  • Antonio F. Galvao, Jr.

    (City University London)

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of increasing formality via tax reduction and simplification schemes on micro-firm performance. It uses the 1997 Brazilian SIMPLES program. We develop a simple theoretical model to show that SIMPLES has an impact only on a segment of the micro-firm population, for which the effect of formality on firm performance can be identified, and that can be analyzed along the single dimensional quantiles of the conditional firm revenues. To estimate the effect of formality, we use an econometric approach that compares eligible and non-eligible firms, born before and after SIMPLES in a local interval about the introduction of SIMPLES. We use an estimator that combines both quantile regression and the regression discontinuity identification strategy. The empirical results corroborate the positive effect of formality on microfirms' performance and produce a clear characterization of who benefits from these programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso Gabrieli & Antonio F. Galvao, Jr. & Antonio F. Galvao, Jr., 2010. "Who Benefits from Reducing the Cost of Formality? Quantile Regression Discontinuity Analysis," Real Estate & Planning Working Papers rep-wp2010-11, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    • Handle: RePEc:rdg:repxwp:rep-wp2010-11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Basu, Arnab K. & Chau, Nancy H. & Siddique, Zahra, 2011. "Tax Evasion, Minimum Wage Non-Compliance and Informality," IZA Discussion Papers 6228, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Formality; Micro-firms; Quantile regression; Regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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