Do Taxes Affect Corporate Financing Decisions?
- Abstract
- Full Text PDF
- Author(s): JEFFREY K. MacKIE‐MASON
- Published: Apr 30, 2012
- Pages: 1471-1493
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6261.1990.tb03724.x
ABSTRACT
This paper provides clear evidence of substantial tax effects on the choice between issuing debt or equity; most studies fail to find significant effects. The relationship between tax shields and debt policy is clarified. Other papers miss the fact that most tax shields have a negligible effect on the marginal tax rate for most firms. New predictions are strongly supported by an empirical analysis; the method is to study incremental financing decisions using discrete choice analysis. Previous researchers examined debt/equity ratios, but tests based on incremental decisions should have greater power.