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The Role of State Fiscal Policy in State Economic Growth

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  • Marc Tomljanovich

Abstract

Do state policy makers have the ability to affect a state's rate of economic growth? This article examines one possible source of growth and per capita output level disparities by studying the role that state taxation and public expenditure decisions play in fostering economic development. Using pooled annual U.S. state‐level data from 1972 to 1998, a fixed‐effects model is employed to examine the effects of changing tax rates on both state per capita output levels and growth rates. The results indicate that higher tax rates negatively influence short‐run state economic growth, which lowers state output levels. However, long‐run growth is unaffected by changes in state tax rates, even after adjusting for the effects of initial per capita output levels, state expenditures, and aid from the federal government. Nor do changes in state public spending rates and federal aid permanently alter state growth rates, implying that state fiscal policies have only transitory effects on state growth. (JEL H71, O40, R11)

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  • Marc Tomljanovich, 2004. "The Role of State Fiscal Policy in State Economic Growth," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 22(3), pages 318-330, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:22:y:2004:i:3:p:318-330
    DOI: 10.1093/cep/byh023
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    Cited by:

    1. Dan Rickman & Hongbo Wang, 2020. "U.S. State And Local Fiscal Policy And Economic Activity: Do We Know More Now?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(2), pages 424-465, April.
    2. António Afonso & Juan Alegre, 2011. "Economic growth and budgetary components: a panel assessment for the EU," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 703-723, December.
    3. Thomas A. Garrett & Russell M. Rhine, 2011. "Economic freedom and employment growth in U.S. states," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 93(Jan), pages 1-18.
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    5. Bernur Acikgoz & Anthony Amoah Author-Email: a.amoah@uea.ac.uk & Mine Yılmazer, 2016. "Economic Freedom and Growth: A Panel Cointegration Approach," Panoeconomicus, Savez ekonomista Vojvodine, Novi Sad, Serbia, vol. 63(5), pages 541-562, December.
    6. Fengsheng Chien & Ka Yin Chau & Talla M. Aldeehani & Pham Quang Huy & Luc Phan Tan & Muhammad Mohsin, 2022. "Does external debt as a new determinants of fiscal policy influence sustainable economic growth: implications after COVID-19," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 1717-1737, August.
    7. Osman Cenk Kanca & Rahmi Yamak, 2018. "Effect of Average Tax Rates on Long-Run Economic Growth Rate in Turkey," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 14(5), pages 286-298, OCTOBER.
    8. Reed, W. Robert, 2008. "The Robust Relationship Between Taxes and U.S. State Income Growth," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 61(1), pages 57-80, March.
    9. Roberta Arbolino & Raffaele Boffardi, 2017. "The Impact of Institutional Quality and Efficient Cohesion Investments on Economic Growth Evidence from Italian Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-17, August.
    10. Motloja, Lehlohonolo & Makhoana, Tsholofelo & Kassoma, Rooyen & Houdman, Rozadian & Phiri, Andrew, 2016. "Changes in the optimal tax rate in South Africa prior and subsequent to the global recession period," MPRA Paper 74342, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Arwiphawee Srithongrung & Patricia Byrnes, 2019. "The Causal Linkages Among Arts, Knowledge Employment, and Local Economic Performance," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 33(4), pages 296-315, November.
    12. Emilian DOBRESCU, 2016. "Controversies over the Size of the Public Budget," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 0(4), pages 5-34, December.
    13. James Alm & Janet Rogers, 2011. "Do State Fiscal Policies Affect State Economic Growth?," Public Finance Review, , vol. 39(4), pages 483-526, July.
    14. Resul Cesur & Inas Rashad Kelly, 2014. "Who Pays The Bar Tab? Beer Consumption And Economic Growth In The United States," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(1), pages 477-494, January.
    15. Ferede, Ergete & Dahlby, Bev, 2012. "The Impact of Tax Cuts on Economic Growth: Evidence From the Canadian Provinces," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 65(3), pages 563-594, September.
    16. Tweneboah Senzu, Emmanuel & Ndebugri, Haruna, 2018. "The economic evidence in the relationship between corporate tax and private investment in Ghana," MPRA Paper 84729, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Crosby, Andrew W. & Merriman, David F., 2016. "What Happened to Illinois’ Economy Following the January 2011 Tax Increases? A Midwestern Comparison," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 46(1).
    18. Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel, 2019. "Macroeconomic Institutions: Lessons from World Experience for MENA Countries," Working Papers 1311, Economic Research Forum, revised 21 Aug 2019.
    19. Yankow, Jeffrey J., 2014. "A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of State Economic Freedom on Individual Wages," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 44(1).
    20. W. Robert Reed & Cynthia L. Rogers, 2006. "Tax Burden and the Mismeasurement of State Tax Policy," Public Finance Review, , vol. 34(4), pages 404-426, July.
    21. Zachary Horváth & Brian David Moore & Jonathan C. Rork, 2014. "Does Federal Aid to States Aid the States?," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(2), pages 333-361, June.
    22. Peter Bluestone & Carolyn Bourdeaux, 2019. "Dynamic Revenue Analysis: Experience of the States," Center for State and Local Finance Working Paper Series cslf1911, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    23. Sami Saafi & Meriem Bel Haj Mohamed & Abdeljelil Farhat, 2017. "Untangling the causal relationship between tax burden distribution and economic growth in 23 OECD countries: Fresh evidence from linear and non-linear Granger causality," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 14(2), pages 265-301, December.
    24. R. Warren Anderson, 2018. "The Detroit Discontinuity," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 167-184, September.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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