Revealing 21% of GDP in hidden assets: Evidence from Argentina

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Londono-Velez, Juliana; Tortarolo, Dario
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Los Angeles; The World Bank
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105471
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: tax evasion; Offshore wealth; Amnesties; ENFORCEMENT; argentina

摘要

Argentina's 2016 tax amnesty led to the disclosure of hidden assets totaling 21 % of GDP-an exceptionally large amount, concentrated offshore and among the wealthiest 0.1 %. We examine how this enforcement initiative affected taxpayer behavior, tax progressivity, and revenue. Compliance improved-especially among high-wealth individuals-expanding the bases of both the wealth and capital income taxes. A subsequent tax hike on foreign assets further enhanced progressivity and raised effective tax rates on the top 0.1 %, generating nearly 0.8 % of GDP in wealth tax revenue-one of the highest yields globally. We discuss why, despite prior failed amnesties, Argentina's 2016 policy package proved unusually effective.