Tax Incentives and Economic Development: A Critical Review of Effectiveness and Efficiency
Governments worldwide use tax incentives—such as tax holidays, investment credits, and special economic zones (SEZs)—to attract investment, foster innovation, and stimulate economic development. While such incentives are popular tools in fiscal policy, their effectiveness remains widely debated among economists and policymakers. This article critically examines the theoretical rationale, empirical evidence, and case studies on tax incentives, focusing on their economic impact, fiscal cost, and administrative challenges.
Theoretical Foundations of Tax Incentives
From a neoclassical perspective, investment decisions are driven by after-tax returns.… Read more