Taxation of U.S. foreign direct investment abroad: Effective tax rates and tax policy competition in developed and developing countries

Abstract

The study tests whether tax policy is effective in attracting foreign direct investment and examines differences in tax policies between developed and developing countries. The study found that, during the 1968–1982 period, a sample of 17 developed countries, on average, had high effective tax rates (compared to the developing countries), appeared to compete vigorously through tax policies, and had tax rates that tended to converge over time. During the same period, a sample of 48 developing countries exhibited divergent tax behavior within the group, suggesting less competition. The study also found that the tax sensitivity of foreign direct investment is significantly greater within the developed country group than within the developing country group. These findings have implications for both governments and multinational corporations.