Are tax incentives attracting more foreign direct investments in Asia and the Pacific?

Tax rates are key tools for mobilizing domestic resources and addressing specific market failures. Countries often offer tax concessions or reduce corporate tax rates in order to boost private investment or to direct investment to “desired areasâ€. Corporate tax rates, especially for foreign investors, have been reduced significantly in many Asia-Pacific economies during the last seven years. However, this policy has had limited success in the region in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, but at the same time has deprived governments from valuable resources required to support inclusive and sustainable development especially when government budget is in distress. Estimated tax losses due to the reduction of corporate tax rates, as well as alternative options for attractive FDI, including regional tax agreement on avoidance of tax competition, are analyzed in this policy brief.