Cross-border casino competition, Externalities and Optimal Tax Policy: A Unified Theory with Quantitative Analysis

B-Tier
Journal: Regional Science and Urban Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 88
Issue: C

Authors (4)

Chang, Juin-Jen (not in RePEc) Fiedler, Ingo (not in RePEc) Lai, Ching-Chong (Academia Sinica) Wang, Ping (Washington University in St. L...)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

We develop a framework on cross-border competition in markets for goods with negative externalities and provide evidence for optimal fiscal policy with a special focus on taxation. We build the case of two bordering casinos with city governments setting taxes to maximize social welfare. Analytically, we show that cross-border casino gambling makes aggregate casino demand more elastic. By calibrating the model to fit the Detroit-Windsor market, our welfare analysis shows that cross-border competition induces both cities to lower casino taxes, while the optimal tax mix features a shift from the casino revenue tax to the good and service surcharge on gambling in Detroit but a reversed shift in Windsor. We also find a casino buy-out deal to not be credible because Windsor's willingness to pay Detroit to ban Michigan casinos is far below Detroit's willingness to accept giving up its casinos.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:regeco:v:88:y:2021:i:c:s0166046221000132
Journal Field
Urban
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25