Impact of risk aversion attitude on tax morale: insights from a context of low risk of tax evasion

This study examines how risk attitude affects tax morale among approximately 7300 taxpayers in South Korea by focusing on the individual-level variable. To estimate tax morale in terms of risk attitude, the framed and hypothetical tax morale question method is used. The method clearly states that there is no documentary evidence about cash payment. Therefore, the chances of being audited or fined are minute. The study finds that a risk-aversion attitude has a positive impact on tax morale even when the risk of being audited and fined is low. Furthermore, the results indicate that the positive impact of risk aversion on tax morale remains consistent even among different income groups, genders, and educational backgrounds. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023.