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Decentralizing Spending More Than Revenue: Does it Hurt Fiscal Performance?

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  • Mr. Luc Eyraud
  • Ms. Lusine Lusinyan

Abstract

In many countries the decentralization of spending responsibilities has outpaced the decentralization of revenue powers. Sub-national governments have then to rely on transfers from the center and borrowing to finance their spending. When this occurs, we find that the overall fiscal deficit tends to increase. This result is based on cross-country econometric evidence from OECD countries, and is particularly strong in the presence of regional disparities. Fiscal discipline can be strengthened by ensuring that sub-national taxing powers are adequate to meet spending obligations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Luc Eyraud & Ms. Lusine Lusinyan, 2011. "Decentralizing Spending More Than Revenue: Does it Hurt Fiscal Performance?," IMF Working Papers 2011/226, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2011/226
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    Cited by:

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    3. Francese, Maura & Piacenza, Massimiliano & Romanelli, Marzia & Turati, Gilberto, 2014. "Understanding inappropriateness in health spending: The role of regional policies and institutions in caesarean deliveries," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 262-277.
    4. Massimo Bordignon & Matteo Gamalerio & Gilberto Turati, 2013. "Decentralization, Vertical Fiscal Imbalance, and Political Selection," DISCE - Working Papers del Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza def002, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    5. Dietrichson, Jens & Ellegård, Lina Maria, 2015. "Assist or desist? Conditional bailouts and fiscal discipline in local governments," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 153-168.
    6. Phouthakannha Nantharath & Sirisak Laochankham & Peerasit Kamnuasilpa & Eungoo Kang, 2020. "Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Growth in Thailand: A Cross-Region Analysis," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(1), pages 147-156, January.
    7. Raghbendra Jha & Hari K. Nagarajan & Anirudh Tagat, 2019. "Restricted and Unrestricted Fiscal Grants and Tax Effort of Panchayats in India," ASARC Working Papers 2019-02, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
    8. Pang, Lidong & Zhu, Meng Nan & Yu, Haiyan, 2022. "Is green finance really a blessing for green technology and carbon efficiency?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Sergio Beraldo & Massimiliano Piacenza & Gilberto Turati, 2012. "Fiscal Decentralization In Weak Institutional Environments," Post-Print halshs-00706970, HAL.
    10. Fardoust, Shahrokh & Lin, Justin Yifu & Luo, Xubei, 2012. "Demystifying China's fiscal stimulus," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6221, The World Bank.
    11. Sorens, Jason, 2016. "Vertical Fiscal Gaps and Economic Performance: A Theoretical Review and an Empirical Meta-analysis," Working Papers 06856, George Mason University, Mercatus Center.
    12. Gu, Gyun Cheol, 2012. "Developing Composite Indicators for Fiscal Decentralization: Which Is The Best Measure For Whom?," MPRA Paper 43032, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Ms. Izabela Karpowicz, 2012. "Narrowing Vertical Fiscal Imbalances in Four European Countries," IMF Working Papers 2012/091, International Monetary Fund.
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    17. Thien Vu Tran & Joseph Drew & Masayoshi Noguchi, 2018. "The Role of Revenue Volatility in Local Expenditure Volatility: A Comparison of Tokyo Metropolitan Local Governments," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 37(4), pages 443-455, December.
    18. Mr. Luc Eyraud & Ms. Marialuz Moreno Badia, 2013. "Too Small to Fail? Subnational Spending Pressures in Europe," IMF Working Papers 2013/046, International Monetary Fund.
    19. Paul Van Rompuy, 2016. "Sub-national Tax Autonomy and Deficits: Empirical Results for 27 OECD Countries," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(7), pages 1248-1259, July.
    20. Santiago Lago-Peñas & Xoaquín Fernández-Leiceaga & Alberto Vaquero-García, 2017. "Spanish fiscal decentralization: A successful (but still unfinished) process," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(8), pages 1509-1525, December.
    21. Qi, Shaozhou & Pang, Lidong & Qi, Tianbai & Zhang, Xiaoling & Pirtea, Marilen Gabriel, 2024. "The correlation between the green bond market and carbon trading markets under climate change: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    22. Evgeny N. Timushev, 2017. "Flypaper Effect: Causes and Demonstration in the Budgetary System of Russia," Finansovyj žhurnal — Financial Journal, Financial Research Institute, Moscow 125375, Russia, issue 5, pages 60-70, October.
    23. Zeynep Burcu BULUT-ÇEVİK, 2020. "Fiscal Decentralization with a Redistribution Rule vs. Fiscal Centralization," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 28(44).
    24. Aadil Ahmad Ganaie & Sajad Ahmad Bhat & Bandi Kamaiah & N. A. Khan, 2018. "Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Growth: Evidence from Indian States," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 7(1), pages 83-108, June.

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