Land sales as a trap of reinvestment – a deductive analysis of payment willingness

This paper deals with the fiscally neutral transferability of profits from land sales according to § 6b EStG and its possible effect on the price for agricultural land. From the point of view of the single farm this tax norm has an excellent effect. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the whole agricultural sector the advantage of this tax norm is rather questionable both with regard to agriculture in special as well as the national economy in general. The rising prices for land due to § 6b EStG can have a negative effect on highly efficient farming businesses which are willing to expand, but have to finance the expansion soleley with the business earnings. Still, further disadvantages may result from § 6b EStG. Therefore this paper suggests an alternative way of using the margin of § 6b EStG, i.e. the introduction of a moderate flat rate taxation to mitigate the negative effects of § 6b EStG without limiting the positive ones.