The Political Economy of Budget Deficits

The Political Economy of Budget Deficits PDF Author: Mr.Alberto Alesina
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451850689
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 48

Get Book Here

Book Description
This paper provides a critical survey of the literature on politico-institutional determinants of the government budget. We organize our discussion around two questions: Why did certain OECD countries, but not others, accumulate large public debts? Why did these fiscal imbalances appear in the last 20 years rather than before? We begin by discussing the “tax smoothing” model and conclude that this approach alone cannot provide complete answers to these questions. We will then proceed to a discussion of political economy models, which we organize in six groups: (i) models based upon opportunistic policymakers and naive voters with “fiscal illusion;” (ii) models of intergenerational redistributions; (iii) models of debt as a strategic variable, linking the current government with the next one; (iv) models of coalition governments; (v) models of geographically dispersed interests; and (vi) models emphasizing the effects of budgetary institutions. We conclude by briefly discussing policy implications.

The Political Economy of Budget Deficits

The Political Economy of Budget Deficits PDF Author: Mr.Alberto Alesina
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451850689
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 48

Get Book Here

Book Description
This paper provides a critical survey of the literature on politico-institutional determinants of the government budget. We organize our discussion around two questions: Why did certain OECD countries, but not others, accumulate large public debts? Why did these fiscal imbalances appear in the last 20 years rather than before? We begin by discussing the “tax smoothing” model and conclude that this approach alone cannot provide complete answers to these questions. We will then proceed to a discussion of political economy models, which we organize in six groups: (i) models based upon opportunistic policymakers and naive voters with “fiscal illusion;” (ii) models of intergenerational redistributions; (iii) models of debt as a strategic variable, linking the current government with the next one; (iv) models of coalition governments; (v) models of geographically dispersed interests; and (vi) models emphasizing the effects of budgetary institutions. We conclude by briefly discussing policy implications.

Budget Deficits and Budget Institutions

Budget Deficits and Budget Institutions PDF Author: Mr.Alberto Alesina
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451847203
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 36

Get Book Here

Book Description
By discussing the available theoretical and empirical literature, this paper argues that budget procedures and budget institutions do influence budget outcomes. Budget institutions include both procedural rules and balanced budget laws. We critically assess theoretical contributions in this area and suggest several open and unresolved issue. We also examine the empirical evidence drawn from studies on samples of OECD countries, Latin American countries and the United States. We conclude with a discussion of the normative implications of this literature and with some concrete proposals.

Monetary and Fiscal Policy in an Integrated Europe

Monetary and Fiscal Policy in an Integrated Europe PDF Author: Barry Eichengreen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642798179
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 250

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this volume, a group of distinguished economists and political scientists analyze the political economy of European integration, evaluating recent developments in European monetary and fiscal policy. They consider the current situation, as well as the prospects for an Integrated Europe. The book is unique in combining perspectives from economics and political science and provides an in-depth analysis of the new European institutions. The book will be of great interest to observers, scholars, and students of European economic and political affairs, macroeconomic policy, institutional analysis, and comparative and international political economy. Published in conjunction with "Politics and Institutions in an Integrated Europe" by the same editors.

Policy Instruments for Sound Fiscal Policies

Policy Instruments for Sound Fiscal Policies PDF Author: J. Ayuso-i-Casals
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 0230271790
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 367

Get Book Here

Book Description
This volume contributes to empirical research on the role of national fiscal rules and institutions in shaping fiscal policies. It provides original, policy-oriented analysis on a number of questions and gives illuminating conclusions about the devices which promote sound and sustainable policy. Contributors are leading experts.

Economic and Management Issues in Retrospect and Prospect

Economic and Management Issues in Retrospect and Prospect PDF Author: Eszter Wirth
Publisher: IJOPEC PUBLICATION
ISBN: 1912503581
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 495

Get Book Here

Book Description


National Budgeting for Economic and Monetary Union

National Budgeting for Economic and Monetary Union PDF Author: Wildavsky
Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
ISBN: 9004640746
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 233

Get Book Here

Book Description
Although the need for fiscal coordination and for controlling national spending in particular have been widely justified, relatively little attention has been paid to identifying and analyzing concrete measures to make this feasible. Most studies on these aspects of the Economic and Monetary Union have been concerned with questions as to why the need exists for fiscal convergence and to what degree is it desirable. Attention has only recently been focused on examining what budgetary measures (rules, procedures, structures) can be taken by the Commission or finance ministries for European convergence. The objective of this book is to discuss and suggest alternative policy-option initiatives at EC and national levels encouraging convergent financial management behaviour. Analyses are focused on the following important questions: `What is the current capacity of EC and national governments to manage public spending? '; `What budgetary strategies are available to reduce deficits? '; `What should the role of the Commission be under these circumstances? '; `What is the Member States' responsibility for managing national budgets? '; `What budgetary norms and rules should be proposed and negotiated to guarantee convergence of integration? '; `What strategic and structural arrangements could facilitate integration? ', etc.

Fiscal Governance in Europe

Fiscal Governance in Europe PDF Author: Mark Hallerberg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139476270
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 235

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book presents a theoretical framework to discuss how governments coordinate budgeting decisions. There are two modes of fiscal governance conducive to greater fiscal discipline, a mode of delegation and a mode of contracts. These modes contrast with a fiefdom form of governance, in which the decision-making process is decentralized. An important insight is that the effectiveness of a given form of fiscal governance depends crucially upon the underlying political system. Delegation functions well when there are few, or no, ideological differences among government parties, whereas contracts are effective when there are many such differences. Empirically, delegation and contract states perform better than fiefdom states if they match the underlying political system. Additional chapters consider why countries have the fiscal institutions that they do, fiscal governance in Central and Eastern Europe, and the role of such institutions in the European Union.

Crisis in the Eurozone

Crisis in the Eurozone PDF Author: M. Baimbridge
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1137329033
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 277

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book explores the background of the eurozone crisis, outlining a number of potential solutions. It attempts to discover if the problems could have been anticipated, and examines how well have the fiscal EMU rules been adhered to and how appropriate they are.

Adjustment and Growth in the European Monetary Union

Adjustment and Growth in the European Monetary Union PDF Author: Francisco Torres
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 052144019X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 406

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Maastricht Treaty, signed in December 1991, set a timetable for the European Community's economic and monetary union (EMU) and clearly defined the institutional policy changes necessary for its achievement. Subsequent developments have demonstrated, however, the importance of many key issues in the transition to EMU that were largely neglected at the time. This volume reports the proceedings of a joint CEPR conference with the Banco de Portugal, held in January 1992. In these papers, leading international experts address the instability of the transition to EMU, the long-run implications of monetary union and the single market for growth and convergence in Europe. They also consider the prospects for inflation and fiscal convergence, regional policy and the integration of financial markets and fiscal systems. Attention focuses on adjustment mechanisms with differentiated shocks, region-specific business cycles and excessive industrial concentration and the cases for a two-speed EMU and fiscal federalism.

Domestic Budgets in a United Europe

Domestic Budgets in a United Europe PDF Author: Mark Hallerberg
Publisher: Cornell University Press
ISBN: 9780801442711
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 268

Get Book Here

Book Description
Under European Monetary Union, member states lose the ability to steer their economies by manipulating monetary policy. Domestic Budgets in a United Europe, which explains the content, evolution, and effectiveness of fiscal institutions, will be the definitive account of European budget reform in the late twentieth century.Mark Hallerberg examines the making of budgets in EU countries from 1973 to 2000 and explores why those countries introduced fiscal rules when they did. In 1993, when the fiscal-policy criteria for monetary union were first announced, only Luxembourg and the Republic of Ireland would have qualified. In 1997, only Greece failed. Various explanations have been advanced for this rapid turnaround, including luck (a favorable economic climate reduced pressures on local budgets), accounting tricks, and the increasing pressures caused by international capital mobility. Underlying these various explanations is a basic skepticism about whether countries in the European Union actively worked to reform their national budgeting procedures. In rich case studies, Hallerberg shows that the member-states did indeed reform their budget institutions. Many of them, he finds, had started that process long before the formal signing of the Maastricht Treaty of 1991, making domestic changes that allowed them to qualify individually under EMU criteria.