Accounting and Management Journal
Vol 10 No 1 (2026): Accounting and Management Journal

Buoyancy and Elasticity of VAT on Nepalese Economy

Binod Sah (Tribhuvan University)
Endang Lestari (Sekolah Tinggi Illmu Ekonomi Harapan Duri)
Eva Rianty Angelina Sitanggang (Institut Bisnis dan Komputer Indonesia)
Sanju Kumar Singh (Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examines the buoyancy and elasticity of V AT in the Nepalese economy by shifting the conventional responsiveness framework toward an endogenous-growth perspective that evaluates how V AT mobilization relates to aggregate real GDP while controlling for exchange rate, remittance, market capitalization, money supply, and government spending. Using annual time-series data for fiscal years 2003/04–2022/23 compiled from Government of Nepal Economic Surveys, all variables were converted to constant prices using the GDP deflator (base year 2013/14), transformed into log-linear form, and assessed for stationarity and classical assumptions. The preferred model exhibited strong explanatory power (adjusted R² ≈ 0.814), acceptable serial-correlation and heteroskedasticity properties, no structural break, and no multicollinearity (VIF < 10), supporting long- and short-run inference. V AT showed a positive and statistically meaningful association with real GDP: a 1% rise in V AT corresponded to a 0.427% increase in real GDP in the short run and 0.46% in the long run, indicating modest but sustained marginal productivity of V AT. Descriptive evidence further showed Nepal’s heavy reliance on indirect taxes (average share 58.87% of total revenue) and a fluctuating V AT share; after V AT adoption (1997/98–2016/17) V AT rose only sixfold and averaged 27.58% of total revenue, only 0.93 percentage points higher than the replaced taxes pre-V AT, implying implementation gaps. Overall, results suggest V AT supports growth but exhibits low long-run buoyancy/elasticity, underscoring the need for targeted reforms to strengthen V AT administration, compliance, and revenue efficiency.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

AMJ

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management

Description

Accounting and Management Journal is a scientific peer-reviewed journal published by Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Indonesia. Since Established in 2017, AMJ is intended Provide a medium for dissemination of original and quality research on various topic in ...