Does the value-added tax reduction policy promote a firm’s green innovation? Evidence from China

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on the quasi-natural experiment of the Notice on Policies Related to the Simplified Value-added Tax Rate in 2017, this paper constructs a difference-in-difference model to shed light on the impact of the value-added tax reduction policy on a firm’s green innovation and its potential mechanism. The results reveal that after the implementation of the value-added tax reduction policy, the green innovation level of firms affected by the policy shock has significantly improved, and this conclusion remains consistent after a series of robustness tests. From the type of firms’ green innovation, the enforcement of the value-added tax reduction policy spurs firms’ substantive green innovation, but has limited impact on firms’ strategic green innovation. The mechanism test finds that easing financing constraints is an important channel for tax reduction policies to affect firms’ green innovation activities. In addition, the analysis indicates that the positive effect of the value-added tax reduction policy on green innovation is more pronounced among firms with more government innovation subsidies, stronger human capital, and higher capital intensity.