Taxing Multinational Corporations

Written for a non-technical audience, this book summarizes the research on the structure and effects of tax policies collected in "The Effects of Taxation on Multinational Corporations". The book covers such practical issues as the impact of tax law on US competitiveness, the volume and location of research and development spending, the extent of foreign direct investment and the financial practices of multinational companies. In ten succinct chapters, the book documents the channels through which tax policy in the United States and abroad affects plant and equipment investments, spending on research and development, the cost of debt and equity finance, and dividend repatriations by United States subsidiaries. It also discusses the impact of US firms' outbound foreign investment on domestic and foreign economies. Especially useful to non-specialists is an appendix that summarizes current United States rules for taxing international income.