Geographic Income Shifting by Multinational Corporations in Response to Tax Rate Changes

We investigate geographic income shifting by 191 U.S. multinational corporations in response to worldwide changes in tax rates during 1984-90. Between 1984 and 1986, the United Kingdom reduced corporate tax rates from a maximum of 45% to 35%, and in 1985 France reduced rates from 50% to 45%. Following these reductions in European rates, the United States reduced top corporate tax rates from 46% to 34% between 1986 and 1988. Canadian rates increased between 1984 and 1986 and then decreased through 1989. Beginning in 1988, numerous countries enacted tax cuts, apparently in response to those that occurred earlier in other countries. As discussed in section 3, differential changes in tax rates provide incentives for geographic income shifting by multinational firms. We identify two subperiods during 1984-90 in which relative tax rate changes investigate by 191 U.S. multinational corporations in response to worldwide changes in tax rates during 1984-90. he reduced rates from 45%. Following these reductions in Eur abbreviated (AT) As discussed in section 3, differential cha We identify two subperiods during 1984-90 in which relative ... obviously in response to those that occurred earlier in othe...