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Corporate Income Tax Reform in Switzerland

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  • Martin D. Dietz
  • Christian Keuschnigg

Abstract

This paper analyzes the likely economic consequences of a specific proposal for corporate income tax reform in Switzerland that is based on the recent ERU (2001) report. The proposal includes a partial dividend tax relief, more effective taxation of capital gains, and a property tax reduction, all relating to qualified stakes in corporate firms. Based on an analytical and quantitative analysis, we find that the reform removes an important tax barrier against dividend payments, reduces the cost of equity capital, thereby reduces debt leverage and encourages investment in the corporate sector. In stimulating transitional growth towards higher long-run income levels, the reform expands tax bases and thereby becomes considerably less costly in the long-run. A sensitivity analysis shows that the quantitative results are rather robust.1

Suggested Citation

  • Martin D. Dietz & Christian Keuschnigg, 2003. "Corporate Income Tax Reform in Switzerland," University of St. Gallen Department of Economics working paper series 2003 2003-07, Department of Economics, University of St. Gallen.
    • Handle: RePEc:usg:dp2003:2003-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Leon Bettendorf & Albert van der Horst, 2006. "Documentation of CORTAX," CPB Memorandum 161.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    2. Michael Stimmelmayr, 2018. "Investors' Portfolio Choice and Tax Reforms: The 2008 German Corporate Tax Reform Reconsidered," FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 74(3), pages 376-413, September.
    3. Doina Radulescu & Michael Stimmelmayr & Doina Maria Radulescu, 2005. "Implementing a Dual Income Tax in Germany: Effects on Investment and Welfare," ifo Working Paper Series 20, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    4. Christian Keuschnigg & Martin Dietz, 2007. "A growth oriented dual income tax," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 14(2), pages 191-221, April.
    5. Michael Stimmelmayr & Doina Radulescu, 2006. "Does Incorporation Matter? Quantifying the Welfare Loss of Non-uniform Taxation Across," EcoMod2006 272100088, EcoMod.
    6. Henrekson, Magnus & Sanandaji, Tino, 2016. "Owner-Level Taxes and Business Activity," Foundations and Trends(R) in Entrepreneurship, now publishers, vol. 12(1), pages 1-94, March.
    7. Benjamin Carton & Emilio Fernández Corugedo & Mr. Benjamin L Hunt, 2019. "Corporate Tax Reform: From Income to Cash Flow Taxes," IMF Working Papers 2019/013, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Andrzej TABEAU & Geert WOLTJER, 2009. "The Impact of Different Agricultural Labor Market Specifications on Agricultural Employment and Income Development under Different Agricultural Policies," EcoMod2009 21500086, EcoMod.
    9. Leon Bettendorf & Albert van der Horst, 2006. "Documentation of CORTAX," CPB Memorandum 161, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    10. Radulescu, Doina & Stimmelmayr, Michael, 2010. "The impact of the 2008 German corporate tax reform: A dynamic CGE analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 454-467, January.
    11. Doina Radulescu & Michael Stimmelmayr & Doina Maria Radulescu, 2006. "Does Incorporation Matter? Quantifying the Welfare Loss of Non-Uniform Taxation across Sectors," ifo Working Paper Series 26, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax reform; financial policy; organizational choice; dynamic general equilibrium modeling.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models
    • 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

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