Pattern of state coal taxation. [Review]

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Mater. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6529302

Gulley, D A

This paper reviews the recent history of state coal taxation and reports an empirically-based effort at defining the key determinants of state and local coal taxation. A pattern emerges but the analysis is complicated by the empirical and conceptual difficulties typical of such studies. Perhaps as important a result as the detection of a pattern is the recognition that many seemingly important variables do not appear to have consistently influenced tax levels. For policy makers and for industry, it appears that the present concern over a coal-states cartel is excessive. One can speculate that draconian tax adjustments on the basis of a crude-indicator-like reserve base will ultimately transfer less wealth than would skillful preemption of rent. It is also noteworthy that the sign of the tax effort variable is positive, indicating that coal tax rates are consistent with other tax efforts, not a substitute for them. Accepting impacts and general tax effort variables as the best explanations of interstate variations in tax effort is a somewhat different matter than determining what any given state's tax rate ought to be; such a question lies beyond the scope of this paper. This tax-determinant study can not define the right level of coal taxation, but it can suggest that no trend is yet evident toward entrepreneurial tax rates. 20 references, 4 figures.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 6529302
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Mater. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 5:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
017000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
REVIEWS
STATE GOVERNMENT
TAXES