Group 1: Macro Insights - The central government emphasizes the need to advance the construction of a unified national market, addressing local protectionism as a significant barrier to this goal[2] - Tax competition among local governments is a key factor contributing to local protectionism, with tax incentives being a primary tool for attracting investment[2][3] - The current tax competition index is close to its highest level in the past 30 years, indicating the urgency for a unified market[3][14] Group 2: Tax Competition Indicators - Two tax competition indicators are constructed: the provincial tax competition index and the tax refund rate for listed companies, which reflect local protection tendencies[3][11] - The provincial tax competition index averages 0.88 in 2024, nearing the historical maximum of 0.9, with significant regional variations[6][26] - The highest tax competition index is found in Hunan (1.83), while the lowest is in Shanghai (0.22) and Beijing (0.24)[7][26] Group 3: Tax Refund Rates - The national tax refund rate for listed companies reached 15% in 2024, significantly above the long-term average of 5%-10%[8][32] - Jiangxi has the highest tax refund rate at 38.2%, while Shanxi has the lowest at 1.6%[9][32] - Regional disparities exist, with East China and South China showing the highest tax refund rates, while Northwest and North China exhibit the lowest[9][32]