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Fiscal Decentralisation in Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Naeem ur Rehman Khattak

    (Department of Economics, University of Peshawar)

  • Iftikhar Ahmad

    (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad)

  • Jangraiz Khan

    (Department of Economics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar)

Abstract

Fiscal decentralisation is considered to be an important policy weapon to achieve economic efficiency and to ensure effective governance through financial autonomy of provincial governments. It helps the smaller units of federation to take part in the economic development of country and provide opportunities to the central government to complete the national level tasks more efficiently. In Pakistan, resource distribution is done through the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. All the provinces are given their share according the NFC award and the provinces distribute it through the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC). The aim of the present study is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current fiscal resource distribution system in Pakistan through a compilation of its historical trends. In addition, the study also intends to investigate the effects of current resource distribution policies on the economic growth of the country. For this purpose, time series data for 36 years has been used, covering the period 1974-2009. The econometric technique ARDL has been used for estimation. The results show a long-run relationship between fiscal decentralisation and economic growth of Pakistan. The FD mechanism adopted in Pakistan during the period has failed to produce optimum results. Poor provincial capacities to efficiently generate own resources as well as provincial dependence on federal transfers have negatively affected the long-run economic growth of Pakistan. Thus, the uni-criterion resource distribution mechanism failed to affect economic growth of Pakistan positively in the long run. It is therefore suggested to consider, evaluate, and choose from a range of other indicators of development and fiscal needs. The important variables, infrastructure, poverty, backwardness, revenue generation capacity, efficiency aspects, and inverse population density, likewise, should be reviewed, and the most appropriate of these should be taken into account to deal with the economic discrepancies of provinces through adequate resource transfer.

Suggested Citation

  • Naeem ur Rehman Khattak & Iftikhar Ahmad & Jangraiz Khan, 2010. "Fiscal Decentralisation in Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 49(4), pages 419-436.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:49:y:2010:i:4:p:419-436
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sadia Hussain & Shafei Moiz Hali & Riaz Ahmad & Sumera Iqbal & Hamza Iftikhar, 2021. "Fiscal decentralization and poverty alleviation: A case study of Pakistan," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(2), pages 139-154, June.
    2. Muhammad Shahid & Rukhsana Kalim, 2020. "Decentralized Tax Revenue, Institutional Complementarity and Economic Growth: A Time Series Analysis of Pakistan," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 25-33.
    3. Iftikhar Ahmad & Nasir Iqbal & Mahmood Khalid, 2021. "Fiscal Federalism in Pakistan: Need for a Revisit," PIDE Policy View Point 2021:33, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    4. Smoke, Paul, 2016. "Looking Beyond Conventional Intergovernmental Fiscal Frameworks: Principles, Realities, and Neglected Issues," ADBI Working Papers 606, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    5. Sehrish Shahzad & Bushra Yasmin, 2016. "Does Fiscal Decentralisation Matter for Poverty and Income Inequality in Pakistan?," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 55(4), pages 781-802.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal Decentralisation; Economic Growth; ECM; Pakistan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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