Anonymous shell companies: A global audit study and field experiment in 176 countries

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Allred, Brent B.; Findley, Michael G.; Nielson, Daniel; Sharman, J. C.
• 署名单位: William & Mary; University of Texas System; University of Texas Austin; Brigham Young University; University of Cambridge
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/s41267-016-0047-7
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 596-619
• 关键词: shell corporations; International law; Audit study; global field experiment; tax havens

摘要

To test whether firms behave consistently with international law prohibiting anonymous incorporation, we conducted a global audit study and field experiment, using data from 1639 incorporation firms in 176 countries. We requested anonymous incorporation and randomly assigned references to international law, threat of penalties, norms of appropriate behavior, or a placebo. We find a substantial number of firms willing to flout international standards and show that those in OECD countries proved significantly less compliant with rules than in developing countries or tax havens. Firms in tax havens displayed significantly greater compliance and were sensitive to experimental interventions invoking international law.