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Fiscal Institutions and the Relation between Central and Sub-National Government Fiscal Balances

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  • John Thornton

    (International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C., jthornton@imf.org)

  • Amine Mati

    (International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C.)

Abstract

Skeptics of fiscal decentralization argue that it can complicate fiscal stabilization policies at the level of the central government because of uncoordinated fiscal actions by the national and sub-national tiers of government. However, panel data estimates for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies suggest that this danger has been overstated in that changes in the fiscal balances of central and sub-national governments are highly positively correlated. This result partly reflects the success of institutional arrangements that govern intergovernmental fiscal relations and appears unrelated to the extent of fiscal decentralization.

Suggested Citation

  • John Thornton & Amine Mati, 2008. "Fiscal Institutions and the Relation between Central and Sub-National Government Fiscal Balances," Public Finance Review, , vol. 36(2), pages 243-254, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:36:y:2008:i:2:p:243-254
    DOI: 10.1177/1091142107308297
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eichler, Stefan & Hofmann, Michael, 2013. "Sovereign default risk and decentralization: Evidence for emerging markets," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 113-134.
    2. Thushyanthan Baskaran, 2012. "Tax Decentralization and Public Deficits in OECD Countries," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 42(4), pages 688-707, October.
    3. Philip Bodman & Harry Campbell & Kelly-Ana Heaton & Andrew Hodge, "undated". "Fiscal Decentralisation, Macroeconomic Conditions and Economic Growth in Australia," MRG Discussion Paper Series 2609, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.

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