Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/26544 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 2499
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
We set up a model to characterize the reaction functions of governments competing for mobile capital by simultaneously setting both the business tax rate as well as the level of provision of a productive public input. Using a rich data set of local jurisdictions, we then test the predictions of the model with respect to the nature of strategic interaction among governments. Our findings from efficient estimation of a system of spatially interrelated equations for both policy instruments support the notion that local governments use both the business tax rate and public inputs to compete for capital. In particular, we find that if neighbors cut their tax rates, governments try to restore competitiveness by lowering their own tax and increasing spending on public inputs. If neighbors provide more infrastructure, governments react by increasing their own spending on public inputs.
Subjects: 
Tax competition
public input
competition
system estimation
JEL: 
H72
H77
C72
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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