A note on depreciation allowances, taxation and risk-taking

Abstract

Incentive effects of depreciation rules for risk-taking are considered. If true economic depreciation is stochastic, pro fit taxes with expected-value depreciation allowances decrease risk-taking. However, if real capital is used only in the risky sector, more generous depreciation allowances increase risk-taking. It is also shown that the incentive effect of risk-taking-revenue taxes to increase the risky fraction of investment is stronger in the case of more generous depreciation allowances. (author's abstract)