In All Fairness: A Meta-Analysis of the Tax Fairness–Tax Compliance Literature

ABSTRACT We conduct a meta-analysis of the tax fairness–tax compliance literature from its inception in 1976 through 2021. We use an organizational justice perspective (Colquitt 2001) to differentiate between the dimensions of fairness that dominate tax fairness research. We find that the aggregate effect size of the fairness-compliance association is positive and of medium strength. We also find that distributive fairness has the strongest effect on taxpayers’ compliance and is largely driven by the subdimension of exchange equity. Other dimensions of fairness, namely, interactional (interpersonal and informational) and procedural, have smaller effect sizes. We also find a moderating effect of methodology. Our findings suggest both the importance of ensuring that tax dollars are used in ways that taxpayers value, while downplaying the effect of interactional aspects of tax administration, and the importance of carefully considering methodology when conducting tax fairness research.