Statutory Corporate Tax Rates and Income Distribution — Panel Data From 95 Countries Using Driscoll and Kraay Standard Errors and Quantile via Moments

Abstract

The study uses the statutory corporate tax rate to explain before and after tax and transfer income distribution. The unbalanced panel has 95 countries from 1988 to 2018. The study uses Driscoll & Kraay standard errors and Quantile Via Moments. The study finds higher corporate tax rates appear to lessen income inequality in most cases, small coefficients suggest it is minor and insignificant for after-tax and transfer income distribution in developed countries. Furthermore, in an augmented model with fewer observations spanning 1988 to 2005, the average rate of personal income tax progressivity significantly reduces net income inequality while the statutory corporate tax rate is insignificant. Therefore, findings may indicate increases in personal income tax rate progressivity may be more effective policy tools than changes in statutory corporate tax rates to moderate growing income inequality.