Newspaper Differentiation and Investments in Journalism: The Role of Tax Policy
28 Pages Posted: 22 Sep 2011
There are 3 versions of this paper
Newspaper Differentiation and Investments in Journalism: The Role of Tax Policy
Newspaper Differentiation and Investments in Journalism: The Role of Tax Policy
Newspaper Differentiation and Investments in Journalism: The Role of Tax Policy
Date Written: September 22, 2011
Abstract
Many countries levy reduced-rate indirect taxes on newspapers, with proclaimed policy goals of stimulating investment in journalism and ensuring low newspaper prices. However, by taking into account the fact that the media industry operates in two-sided markets, we find the paradoxical result that the consequences of a low-tax regime might be quite the opposite; low investments and high prices. We also show that the low-tax regime tends to increase newspaper differentiation. If the advertising market is relatively small, the newspapers might invest too little in journalism and be too differentiated from a social point of view. In this case a tax increase will be welfare enhancing.
Keywords: two-sided markets, ad-valorem taxes
JEL Classification: D400, D430, H210, H220, L130
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation