This paper examines the determinants and margins of profit shifting through transfer pricing. We develop a theory model, where transfer pricing patterns are governed by a generalized concealment cost function (CCF). Our empirical analysis draws on micro-level data about transaction-level...

This study investigates if controlled foreign corporation (CFC) rules influence cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) activity on a global scale. CFC rules are one main anti-tax avoidance measure and potentially lead to immediate taxation of foreign subsidiaries' income at the parent level,...

Using pairs of similar US and European firms listed on the S&P500 or StoxxEurope600, we examine effective tax differentials between US multinational corporations (MNCs) and their European peers. We show that statutory tax rates and profit shifting opportunities are important determinants of...

With multinational enterprises (MNEs) centralizing production facilities, market countries claim not to receive their fair share of taxes. A reform of international business taxation that includes new profit allocation rules as well as the introduction of minimum taxation is being considered as...

This paper analyzes the transfer pricing of multinational firms. We propose a simple framework in which intra-firm prices may systematically deviate from arm's length prices for two motives: i) pricing to market, and ii) tax avoidance. Multinational firms may decide not to avoid taxes if the...

We exploit the new multinational corporations' country-by-country reporting datawith unparalleled country coverage to study profit shifting to tax havens. We showthat a logarithmic function is preferable to linear and quadratic ones for modelling the extremely non-linear relationship between...

Profit shifting of multinational corporations (MNCs) negatively affects citizens, governments as well as other companies in the European Union. This consensus seems to be emerging in spite of the fact that the phenomenon of profit shifting is unobservable directly and therefore only indirect and...

This paper analyses the effect of a firm’s organizational capacity on the reported profitability of multinational enterprises (MNEs). Better organizational practices improve productivity and the potential taxable profits of firms. However, higher adoption of these practices may also enable...

The paper analyzes the case of tax planning that tilts the government gain/loss ratio below one, and provides a proof of a certain type of inefficiency caused by tax planning. As the paper shows, the tax imbalance distorts the firm's output level, providing the firm with an incentive to produce...

Profit shifting by multinational corporations is thought to reduce tax revenue around the world. We analyze the introduction of standard regulations aimed at limiting profit shifting. Using administrative tax and customs data from Chile in difference-in-differences event-study designs, we find...