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Fiscal Transparency and Fiscal Policy Outcomes in OECD Countries

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  • James E. Alt

    (Harvard University)

  • David Dreyer Lassen

    (Economic Policy Research Unit, University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

It is widely believed and often argued that fiscal, or budgetary, transparency has large, positive effects on fiscal performance. However, the evidence linking transparency and fiscal policy outcomes is far from compelling. We present a career-concerns model with political parties to analyze the effects of fiscal transparency on public debt accumulation. To test the predictions of the model, we construct a replicable index of fiscal transparency. Simultaneous estimates of debt and transparency on 19-country OECD data strongly confirm that a higher degree of fiscal transparency is associated with lower public debt and deficits.

Suggested Citation

  • James E. Alt & David Dreyer Lassen, 2003. "Fiscal Transparency and Fiscal Policy Outcomes in OECD Countries," EPRU Working Paper Series 03-02, Economic Policy Research Unit (EPRU), University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:epruwp:03-02
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    Cited by:

    1. Lori L. Leachman & Guillermo Rosas & Peter Lange & Alan Bester, 2007. "The Political Economy Of Budget Deficits," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(3), pages 369-420, November.
    2. Besley, Timothy & Smart, Michael, 2007. "Fiscal restraints and voter welfare," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(3-4), pages 755-773, April.
    3. Emanuele Bracco & Francesco Porcelli & Michela Redoano, 2013. "Political Competition, Tax Salience and Accountability: Theory and Some Evidence from Italy," CESifo Working Paper Series 4167, CESifo.
    4. Amoroso Nicolás, 2008. "Transparency and Numeric Rules in the Budgeting Process: Theory and Evidence," Working Papers 2008-13, Banco de México.
    5. Bordignon, Massimo & Grembi, Veronica & Piazza, Santino, 2017. "Who do you blame in local finance? An analysis of municipal financing in Italy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 146-163.
    6. Altemeyer-Bartscher, Martin, 2014. "Fiscal Equalization, Tax Salience, and Tax Competition," VfS Annual Conference 2014 (Hamburg): Evidence-based Economic Policy 100622, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    7. Peter Montiel & Luis Servén, 2006. "Macroeconomic Stability in Developing Countries: How Much Is Enough?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 21(2), pages 151-178.
    8. Bracco, Emanuele & Porcelli, Francesco & Redoano, Michela, 2019. "Political competition, tax salience and accountability. Theory and evidence from Italy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 138-163.
    9. Sophia Gollwitzer, 2010. "Budget Institutions and Fiscal Performance in Africa," Discussion Papers 10/02, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    10. Agnese Sacchi & Simone Salotti, 2016. "A Comprehensive Analysis of Expenditure Decentralization and of the Composition of Local Public Spending," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(1), pages 93-109, January.
    11. Yves M. Tehou TEKENG & Mesbah Fathy SHARAF, 2015. "Fiscal Transparency, Measurement and Determinants: Evidence from 27 Developing Countries," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 69-91, March.
    12. Bronić Mihaela & Stanić Branko & Prijaković Simona, 2022. "The Effects of Budget Transparency on the Budget Balances and Expenditures of Croatian Local Governments," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 111-124, June.
    13. Mr. Marc G Quintyn & Sophia Gollwitzer, 2010. "The Effectiveness of Macroeconomic Commitment in Weak(er) Institutional Environments," IMF Working Papers 2010/193, International Monetary Fund.
    14. International Monetary Fund, 2006. "Burundi: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix," IMF Staff Country Reports 2006/307, International Monetary Fund.
    15. International Monetary Fund, 2005. "Fiscal Transparency and Economic Outcomes," IMF Working Papers 2005/225, International Monetary Fund.
    16. Mr. Andrew J Tiffin & Mr. Christian B. Mulder & Mr. Charalambos Christofides, 2003. "The Link Between Adherence to International Standards of Good Practice, Foreign Exchange Spreads, and Ratings," IMF Working Papers 2003/074, International Monetary Fund.
    17. Williams, Andrew, 2015. "A global index of information transparency and accountability," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 804-824.
    18. Yongseok Shin & Ms. Rachel Glennerster, 2003. "Is Transparency Good for You, and Can the IMF Help?," IMF Working Papers 2003/132, International Monetary Fund.

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