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Fiscal and Regulatory Competition: Theory and Evidence

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  • Wallace E. Oates

Abstract

This paper reviews first the theoretical literature and then the empirical studies of interjurisdictional competition among governments. Of central interest is the normative question of whether fiscal and regulatory competition promotes a more efficient functioning of the public sector or whether it is the source of distortions in the public and private sectors. This is a contentious issue; both the theoretical and empirical literature, while providing some rich insights into the potential impact of such competition, do not give us an unambiguous answer to the general normative question. The concluding section offers the author’s thoughts on all this with a leaning towards the view that such competition is, on balance, efficiency–enhancing.

Suggested Citation

  • Wallace E. Oates, 2002. "Fiscal and Regulatory Competition: Theory and Evidence," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 3(4), pages 377-390, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:perwir:v:3:y:2002:i:4:p:377-390
    DOI: 10.1111/1468-2516.00100
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    7. Eckardt, Martina, 2003. "The Open Method of Co-ordination on Pensions - An Economic Analysis of its Effects on Pension Reforms," Thuenen-Series of Applied Economic Theory 39, University of Rostock, Institute of Economics.
    8. Min Zhou & Teng Wang & Liang Yan & Xiong-Biao Xie, 2018. "Has Economic Competition Improved China’s Provincial Energy Ecological Efficiency under Fiscal Decentralization?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Martin Baur & Pierre-Alain Bruchez & Barbara Schlaffer, 2013. "Institutions for Crisis Prevention: the Case of Switzerland," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 4, pages 10-21, July.
    10. Berthold Norbert & Neumann Michael, 2004. "Ballungsprozesse im Standortwettbewerb der deutschen Bundesländer," ORDO. Jahrbuch für die Ordnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, De Gruyter, vol. 55(1), pages 169-190, January.
    11. Gore, Tony & Wells, Peter, 2009. "Governance and evaluation: The case of EU regional policy horizontal priorities," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 158-167, May.
    12. Richter, Wolfram F., 2004. "Delaying integration of immigrant labor for the purpose of taxation," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 597-613, May.
    13. Laurent Van Malderen & Marcel Gérard, 2012. "Tax Interaction Among Walloon Municipalities: Is There Room For Partisan Monopoly Effect?," ERSA conference papers ersa12p1051, European Regional Science Association.
    14. Marcel Gérard & Laurent van Malderen, 2012. "Tax Interaction among Walloon Municipalities: Is there Room for Yardstick Competition, Intellectual Trend and Partisan Monopoly Effect?," CESifo Working Paper Series 4025, CESifo.
    15. Caihua Zhou, 2021. "Game Theory-Based Analysis of Local Governments’ Behavioral Dissimilation in the Third-Party Soil Pollution Control under Chinese-Style Fiscal Decentralization," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    16. Libman, Alexander, 2009. "Constitutions, Regulations, and Taxes: Contradictions of Different Aspects of Decentralization," MPRA Paper 15854, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Libman, Alexander, 2009. "Essays on Asymmetric Federalism," MPRA Paper 21591, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    19. Alexeev, Alexander & Good, David H. & Krutilla, Kerry, 2016. "Environmental taxation and the double dividend in decentralized jurisdictions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 90-100.

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