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Vertical Fiscal Imbalance and Local Fiscal Discipline: Empirical Evidence from China

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Using a nationwide city-level panel dataset for China for the years 1999-2009, this paper examines the effects of vertical fiscal imbalances (VFI) on local fiscal discipline and explicitly explores the institutional conditions under which these effects may take place. We find that higher VFI levels induce fiscal indiscipline by reducing tax effort of local governments. We exploit the unique Chinese fiscal institution of assigning taxing power for local taxes and shared taxes to two separate authorities (i.e., the local tax bureau and the central tax bureau, respectively) in several ways. We show that local governments respond to the presence of the VFI by lowering their tax effort on local taxes, but do not do so for shared taxes. In addition, we show that the (in)disciplining effect of the VFI is not present for extra-budgetary revenues, which reflects the institutional fact that extra-budgetary revenues are not considered for the determination of central fiscal transfers to local governments, thus creating no incentive for local governments to respond in this area.

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  • Junxue Jia & Yongzheng Liu & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Kewei Zhang, 2017. "Vertical Fiscal Imbalance and Local Fiscal Discipline: Empirical Evidence from China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1717, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper1717
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    Cited by:

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    2. Santiago Lago-Peñas & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Agnese Sacchi, 2020. "Fiscal stability during the Great Recession: putting decentralization design to the test," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(7), pages 919-930, July.
    3. Youshuai Sun & Demi Zhu & Zhenyu Zhang & Na Yan, 2022. "Does Fiscal Stress Improve the Environmental Efficiency? Perspective Based on the Urban Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Manuel E. Lago & Santiago Lago-Peñas & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, 2024. "On the effects of intergovernmental grants: a survey," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 31(3), pages 856-908, June.
    5. Xu Zhang & Tianchu Feng & Chengjun Wang & Chaozhu Li, 2023. "Local Fiscal Pressure and Public Health: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Lin, Boqiang & Zhou, Yicheng, 2021. "How does vertical fiscal imbalance affect the upgrading of industrial structure? Empirical evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    7. Zhou, Shiyu & Luo, Weijie, 2024. "Pollution consequences of vertical fiscal imbalance: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 85-97.
    8. Tianchu Feng & Meijuan Liu & Chaozhu Li, 2022. "How Does Vertical Fiscal Imbalance Affect CO 2 Emissions? The Role of Capital Mismatch," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    9. Lin, Boqiang & Zhou, Yicheng, 2021. "Does fiscal decentralization improve energy and environmental performance? New perspective on vertical fiscal imbalance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    10. Kate Hynes & Yongzheng Liu & Jie Ma & Ian Wooton, 2022. "Tax competition for FDI: China’s exceptional approach," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(3), pages 788-809, June.
    11. Liangliang Liu & Wenqing Zhang, 2022. "Vertical fiscal imbalance and energy intensity in China," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(2), pages 509-526, October.
    12. Yunchan Zhu & Shuo Han & Yimeng Zhang & Qi Huang, 2021. "Evaluating the Effect of Government Emission Reduction Policy: Evidence from Demonstration Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
    13. Liangliang Liu & Wenqing Zhang, 2022. "Vertical fiscal imbalance and government spending on science and technology in China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 1953-1971, August.
    14. del Castillo, Ernesto & Cabral, René, 2024. "Subnational public debt sustainability in Mexico: Is the new fiscal rule working?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    15. Аnna A. Mikhaylova & Evgeny N. Timushev, 2021. "Concept of Vertical Fiscal Imbalance in the Analysis of Fiscal Sustainability at the Regional Level," Finansovyj žhurnal — Financial Journal, Financial Research Institute, Moscow 125375, Russia, issue 6, pages 98-116, December.
    16. Wei Li & Jie Li & Siwei Sun, 2023. "Influence of public credit risk on private capital in public–private partnership models," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 1330-1343, March.
    17. Klimanov, V. & Mikhaylova, A., 2021. "Fiscal decentralization in pandemic and post-pandemic times," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 51(3), pages 218-226.

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    JEL classification:

    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • 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

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