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What Do OECD Countries Cut First When Faced with Fiscal Adjustments?

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  • Ismael Sanz

Abstract

Following the present scale of fiscal imbalances in developed countries, significant fiscal consolidation will be inevitable in the coming years. Fiscal discipline will require cuts in government expenditure, leading to trade‐offs between different components of government expenditure. In this article, we explore the relationship between components of government expenditure and government size during the period 1970‐2007 for a sample of 25 developed countries to shed light on how fiscal discipline might influence public spending composition in the coming years. Using the Pooled Mean Group estimation we find that fiscal adjustments protect functions that have both a social and productive character, such as education and health spending. In addition, the most productive spending, that related to transport and communications, is also isolated from budgetary cuts. This result shows evidence of governments reacting to the voter's increasing realization that reducing productive expenditures harms long‐term economic growth by striking a balance between utility and economic‐growth‐enhancing expenditure.

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  • Ismael Sanz, 2011. "What Do OECD Countries Cut First When Faced with Fiscal Adjustments?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 77(3), pages 753-775, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:77:y:2011:i:3:p:753-775
    DOI: 10.4284/sej.2011.77.3.753
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    Cited by:

    1. Sebastian Lazăr & Bogdan-Gabriel Zugravu & Adina Dornean, 2020. "Taxes for the People or for the Government? A Global Governance Perspective," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 67(3), pages 389-407, September.
    2. Amine Lahiani & Ameni Mtibaa & Foued Gabsi, 2022. "Fiscal Consolidation, Social Sector Expenditures and Twin Deficit Hypothesis: Evidence from Emerging and Middle-Income Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 64(4), pages 710-747, December.

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