Why the European Union Should Adopt Formula Apportionment with a Sales Factor*

B-Tier
Journal: Scandanavian Journal of Economics
Year: 2008
Volume: 110
Issue: 3
Pages: 567-589

Authors (2)

Thomas Eichner (not in RePEc) Marco Runkel (CESifo)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Using a two‐country tax competition model with a multinational enterprise (MNE), this paper addresses the question of whether the European Union should replace separate accounting (SA) in corporate income taxation by formula apportionment (FA) and, if so, which apportionment factors should be used. Our main result is that FA with a sales factor may mitigate or even eliminate fiscal externalities caused by the countries' tax policy. Hence, our analysis provides a microfoundation for the sales apportionment factor. In an empirical calibration to the EU‐15 we show that the transition from SA to FA with a sales‐only formula raises average tax rates by 2% and average tax revenues by 1 billion euros or 0.1% of GDP. These effects result in an increase of welfare.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:scandj:v:110:y:2008:i:3:p:567-589
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29