Petroleum Profit Tax Volatility and Economic Growth in Nigeria (Published)
Nigeria has experienced downward slope in its productivity and economic growth. This affects the macroeconomic environment as it is evident that the country has challenges in fixing their roads, challenging in achieving national plan, high rate of unemployment, low quality education and low standards of living. In all these, studies have implicated low and unsteady revenue generation in the country. This study investigated petroleum profit tax volatility on economic growth in Nigeria, using inflation and exchange rates as moderating variables. This study adopted ex post facto research design. Data were obtained from certified sources; namely, National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and Federal Inland Revenue Services for the 1981Q1-2017Q4, amounting to one hundred and eight (108) observations. Data were exposed to the scrutiny of the appropriate regulatory agencies for validity and reliability. Pre-estimation tests were conducted using Pearson correlation and stationarity tests. The post-estimation tests included linearity, Heteroskedasticity, Breusch-Godfrey serial Correlation Lagrangian Multiplier and stability test. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that Petroleum profit tax volatility had positive and significant effect on EG in Nigeria (R2 = 0.56, β1 = 0.422, t(107) = 6.927, p<0.05). This study concluded that Petroleum profit tax volatility affects economic growth in Nigeria. It was recommended that government should formulate tax policies that will encourage steady tax revenue. In addition, government should ensure prudent application of tax fund to the development of infrastructure that would translate into economic growth
Keywords: Petroleum Profit Tax, Tax Evasion, Tax Revenue, economic growth, gross domestic products, petroleum profit tax volatility, tax volatility