Tax Harmonization versus Tax Competition in Europe: A Game Theoretical Approach

The purpose of this paper is to use a game theoretical approach to analyze tax harmonization, or competition, in a monetary union, more specifically in Europe. Without harmonization, free-riding behaviors may appear, leading to a sub-optimal tax equilibrium. Tax competition may also create budgetary problems and the objective of a balanced budget may not be attained. But national tax autonomy has one main advantage: as monetary policy is “federalized”, and as fiscal policy is constrained by the Stability and Growth Pact, taxation becomes the last macroeconomic instrument within governments’ hands to deal with asymmetric shocks. The literature often condemns tax autonomy because of possible free-riding behaviors. In such a case, the competition could conduct to the lowest tax rate of all countries, condemning others to diminish their public spending. But, this analysis rests on a static point of view: In that case, harmonization with strict rules is Pareto-optimum. In the dynamic case, as harmonization costs are not incurred, the final equilibrium may be of a higher welfare level. Coordination would occur without the need for strict rules. If countries maintain sound public finance, tax competition would not lead to a “race to the bottom”.