The Tax-Adjusted Q Model with Intangible Assets: Theory and Evidence from Temporary Investment Tax Incentives

Abstract

We propose a tax-adjusted q model with physical and intangible assets and estimate it with a self-collected comprehensive database of intangible assets. The presence of intangibles changes the accounting and economic measures of q. We show that when tax changes are temporary, the q model can be estimated by adjusting for the firm’s intangible stock and intangible intensity. We estimate our model using temporary investment tax incentive policies in the United States in the early 2000s. When the q-model accounts for intangible assets, the estimated investment elasticity to tax incentives is generally larger than otherwise. It is also larger for intangible-intensive firms, and increases with firm size.

Keywords: Intangible capital, Investment, Tax incentives, Tax changes, Econometric models, investment tax incentives, intangible assets, q model of investment, bonus depreciation, taxation, tax returns, tax policy, tax credit, tangible assets, tax change, tax credits, tax rates, public finance, tax base, capital expenditures, credit claims, tax reform, tax reforms

JEL Classification: H25, G31, E01