Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage
Abstract
In a recent analysis comparing the current oil production tax, More Alaska Production
Act (MAPA, also known as SB 21) to the tax it replaced, Alaska’s Clear and Equitable
Share (ACES), Scott Goldsmith, professor emeritus of economics at ISER, found that
MAPA would produce higher revenues in the future, if changing to MAPA causes
producers to make investments that lead to more production than would have occurred
under ACES.2
Professor Goldsmith did not advocate for either tax, but projected effects of each under
a range of different future oil prices, production rates, and costs. He noted that
comparative revenues are highly sensitive to future costs and oil prices. Oil prices are
notoriously difficult to forecast. Future North Slope oil production, as well as lease costs
that can be deducted from producers’ tax liabilities under both ACES and MAPA, are
also highly uncertain. Proponents of either MAPA or ACES appear to make assumptions
about prices, production, and costs that support their arguments.
Given the inherent uncertainty about oil prices, new production, and expenditures for
capital and operating costs, what assumptions would be most reasonable to make for
assessing outcomes of the tax regimes? This note critically examines the relevant
assumptions for projecting tax outcomes, and explores how the different taxes compare
under a set of assumptions that seem most reasonable, given our best current
information.
The comparisons address not only the amount of revenue the state would collect, but
also how the taxes differently share risk between the industry and the state, and
administrative issues affecting the nature of the relationship between the oil industry and
state government. The analysis also places the debate about MAPA vs. ACES in the
longer term context of Alaska oil production taxes, comparing MAPA and ACES to the
original petroleum profits tax (PPT) that preceded ACES, and to the old severance tax
PPT replaced.Northrim Bank