Corporate Financing Decisions and Non-Debt Tax Shields: Evidence from Italian Experiences in the 1990s

International Tax and Public Finance volume 12, pages741–773(2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Between 1995 and 1999, Italy experienced three episodes of fiscal reform during which different categories of non-debt tax shields were introduced, including a classical investment tax credit, a system of dual income taxation, and an investment tax credit restricted to equity financed investments. Using the balance sheets of a large sample of Italian companies, we construct a data set which allows us to evaluate the impact of the different fiscal interventions. We apply MacKie-Mason's (1990) method to study incremental financing decisions using discrete choice analysis. The analysis shows that the measures introduced were successful in reducing the advantage of debt financing relative to equity financing. We relate the findings to the current literature on the determinants of capital structure.

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Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Economia, Università dell'Insubria, Via Ravasi 2, Varese, 21100, Italy

    Michele Bernasconi, Anna Marenzi & Laura Pagani

Authors
  1. Michele Bernasconi
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  2. Anna Marenzi
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  3. Laura Pagani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michele Bernasconi.

Additional information

JEL Code: G32, H25

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Bernasconi, M., Marenzi, A. & Pagani, L. Corporate Financing Decisions and Non-Debt Tax Shields: Evidence from Italian Experiences in the 1990s. Int Tax Public Finan 12, 741–773 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10797-005-2914-1

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Keywords

  • non-debt tax shields
  • investment tax credits
  • dual income tax