The Intangible Economy

Abstract

The paper explores how a small low-tax economy is affected by foreign corporate-tax shocks. To address this question, I develop a dynamic general-equilibrium model, in which multinational firms engage in both tangible and intangible FDI. Intangible assets arise from multinationals' R&D activities. Each multinational decides whether to place its intangibles in the parent firm or in an overseas affiliate. The placement decision shapes the intra-firm trade in royalties and R&D services. The model reveals that corporate taxes can directly impact arm's-length prices of multinational firms. I investigate territorial corporate taxation as well as worldwide taxation of intangible income.