Does tax convexity matters for risk? A dynamic study of tax asymmetry and equity beta

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting

Publication Date

7-1-2013

Volume

41

Issue

1

First Page

131

Last Page

147

Publisher

Springer New York LLC

Keywords

Equity beta, tax convexity, growth option, default option, contingent-claim model

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of tax convexity on firms’ market risk, where tax convexity measures the progressivity of firms’ tax function. We examine the relation between equity beta and tax convexity based on a standard contingent-claims model, in which firms face nonlinear tax schedules. We verify that in the presence of default and growth options, the effect of tax convexity on beta is significant and depends on several countervailing forces. Tax convexity has a direct, positive effect on beta, as well as two indirect countereffects through default and growth options. The overall effect is ambiguous and quantitatively significant. As asymmetric tax schedules are used in most countries, assuming a linear tax schedule in the valuation framework may misestimate beta and thus fail to assess risk accurately. Our theoretical model shows that tax convexity should be taken into consideration when estimating equity beta.

DOI

10.1007/s11156-012-0303-2

Print ISSN

0924865X

E-ISSN

15737179

Funding Information

This work acknowledge financial support from the University of Macau.

Publisher Statement

Copyright © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Lei, A. C. H., Yick, M.,H.Y., & Lam, K. S. K. (2013). Does tax convexity matters for risk? A dynamic study of tax asymmetry and equity beta. Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, 41(1), 131-147. doi: 10.1007/s11156-012-0303-2

Share

COinS