Grinnell College Associate Professor Eric Ohrn and Colleagues Win International Tax Policy Forum Grant

Eric Ohrn, Grinnell College associate professor of economics, along with his colleagues Daniel G. Garrett at the University of Pennsylvania and Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato at Duke, has received a grant of $15,000 from the International Tax Policy Forum. Ohrn and his colleagues received the grant for a project titled “Effects of International Tax Provisions on Domestic Labor Markets.” The research project examines the impact of changes in the United States’ international tax system on the employment and earnings of U.S.-based workers. The goal of the project is to better understand how policymakers can design international tax systems to help domestic workers.  

Ohrn shared, “We are excited about this project and thrilled that the ITPF has decided to support this research program and our team. Our early results indicate there are ways to alter the international tax system that can improve employment and earnings outcomes for U.S. workers while maintaining the international competitiveness of U.S.-based multinational firms.” 

Ohrn’s research focuses on corporate taxation and its effects on U.S. business activity. In particular, he has studied the impacts of policies such as bonus depreciation, the “Bush Tax Cuts,” and the Domestic Production Activities Deduction on corporate investment, financial reporting, and merger behavior. Ohrn received a B.A in math and economics at Grinnell College and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. Professor Ohrn’s teaching focuses on the areas of public finance, corporate finance, and accounting. He has recently been featured in these articles:  

Inquiring Minds: Q&A with Eric Ohrn 

Corporate Tax Breaks and Executive Compensation