Inter-regional transfers and the induced under-taxation of economic rents

Abstract

Inter-regional transfers and the induced under-taxation of economic rents. Regional Studies. This paper shows that if taxes on economic rent are assigned to anticipatory first-moving regions and inter-regional transfers are mandated centrally, rents are under-taxed relative to optimal levels. This provides a possible explanation for low rent capture observed in Australia and Canada, two resource-rich federal economies that also have fiscal equalization transfers between regions.