Direct Tax Burden, Financing Constraints, and Innovation-Based Output

Abstract

Tax and fee reductions serve as pivotal instruments in the deepening of structural reforms on the supply side and constitute a significant element of China’s proactive fiscal policy. Although China’s tax regime encompasses both direct and indirect tax burdens, the direct tax burden directly impacts the operational costs of firms and remains non-transferable. As such, it holds significant influence over corporate growth trajectories. A decrease in the direct tax burden alleviates financing constraints for firms, subsequently reducing their exposure to business risks. Focusing on the innovative output capabilities of firms, this study analyzes A-share-listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2010 to 2021. It aims to ascertain the influence of direct tax burden reductions on innovation output within the tax and fee reduction framework. The findings indicate that lessening the direct tax burden ameliorates financing constraints, thereby enhancing a firm’s innovative output capabilities. A deeper analysis reveals that non-state-owned enterprises benefit more significantly from this dynamic than their state-owned counterparts, underscoring the potential for targeted tax and fee reduction policies to bolster enterprise innovation. Furthermore, the government should recognize enterprise differentiation and drive broader economic growth through tailored strategies. Notably, the positive impact of mitigating financing constraints on innovation is more pronounced in firms with suboptimal corporate governance structures. While this mechanism notably influences non-invention patent applications, its effect on invention patent applications is comparatively muted. Post-outbreak, the interplay between tax burdens and innovative outputs has intensified, becoming more pronounced than in pre-outbreak times.