ABSTRACT This study examines whether and how tax integrity affects the cost of debt. Whereas most previous studies capture firms’ trust indirectly, we capture a firm’s earned trust more directly… Click to show full abstract
ABSTRACT This study examines whether and how tax integrity affects the cost of debt. Whereas most previous studies capture firms’ trust indirectly, we capture a firm’s earned trust more directly by using its tax-paying credit rating as a proxy. We find that tax integrity is negatively related to the cost of debt. We also examine whether the firm ownership affects the relationship between a firm’s tax integrity and the cost of debt, and find a negative effect that is only significant for non-state-owned enterprises. Finally, we identify business risk as a channel through which tax integrity affects the cost of debt.
               
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