Do Temporary Business Tax Cuts Matter? A General Equilibrium Analysis

Author/Editor:

William Gbohoui

Publication Date:

February 15, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

This paper develops a dynamic general equilibrium model to assess the effects of temporary business tax cuts. First, the analysis extends the Ricardian equivalence result to an environment with production and establishes that a temporary tax cut financed by a future tax-increase has no real effect if the tax is lump-sum and capital markets are perfect. Second, it shows that in the presence of financing frictions which raise the cost of investment, the policy temporarily relaxes the financing constraint thereby reducing the marginal cost of investment. This direct effect implies positive marginal propensities to invest out of tax cuts. Third, when the tax is distortionary, the expectation of high future tax rates reduces the expected marginal return on investment mitigating the direct stimulative effects.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2019/029

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

February 15, 2019

ISBN/ISSN:

9781484393895/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2019029

Pages:

39

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