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National fiscal consolidations and regional inequality in Europe

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  • Luca Agnello
  • Giorgio Fazio
  • Ricardo M. Sousa

Abstract

Using annual data for 13 European countries over the period 1980–2008, we assess the impact of national fiscal consolidations on the income inequality of European regions. Regional dispersion increases in the outcome of consolidation episodes, particularly, when packages are more severe and implemented through spending cuts rather than tax rises. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that fiscal consolidations driven by reductions in government spending can exacerbate regional disparities and may ultimately counteract the European policy efforts to promote territorial cohesion. Our results are robust to alternative inequality measures, the occurrence of crisis episodes and the exclusion of fiscal outliers.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Agnello & Giorgio Fazio & Ricardo M. Sousa, 2016. "National fiscal consolidations and regional inequality in Europe," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 9(1), pages 59-80.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:cjrecs:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:59-80.
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    9. Kim, Hyoungjong & Rhee, Dong-Eun, 2022. "The effects of asset prices on income inequality: Redistribution policy does matter," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    10. Vitor Castro, 2016. "On the behaviour of the functional components ofgovernment expenditures during fiscal consolidations," NIPE Working Papers 11/2016, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    11. Fabio Mazzola & Pietro Pizzuto, 2020. "Great Recession and club convergence in Europe: A cross‐country, cross‐region panel analysis (2000–2015)," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 676-711, June.
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    16. Agnello Luca & Castro Vitor & Dufrénot Gilles & Jawadi Fredj & Sousa Ricardo M., 2020. "Unconventional monetary policy reaction functions: evidence from the US," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 24(4), pages 1-18, September.
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    19. Philip Arestis & Peter Phelps, 2018. "Inequality implications of European economic and monetary union membership: A reassessment," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 50(7), pages 1443-1472, October.
    20. Juan R. Cuadrado-Roura & Ron Martin & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2016. "The economic crisis in Europe: urban and regional consequences," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 9(1), pages 3-11.
    21. Ni, Niannian & Liu, Yulin & Zhou, Hui, 2022. "Financial openness, capital rents and income inequality," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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