The Relationship Between Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Tax Rates

This paper investigates the relationship between economic policy uncertainty and corporate tax rates in a panel dataset of 126 countries throughout 2003–2018. We use the so-called “World Uncertainty Index” to measure the level of economic policy uncertainty. We utilize various estimation techniques and find a one-way causality from economic policy uncertainty to corporate tax rates. Specifically, a rise in economic policy uncertainty leads to higher corporate tax rates. We also discuss potential implications.