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Sub-central Governments and the Economic Crisis: Impact and Policy Responses

Author

Listed:
  • Hansjörg Blöchliger

    (OECD)

  • Claire Charbit

    (OECD)

  • José Maria Pinero Campos

    (OECD)

  • Camila Vammalle

    (OECD)

Abstract

The world is recovering from the worst crisis since the Great Depression, leaving a strong and lasting impact on Member countries’ public finances. This paper analyses how sub-central governments (SCG) are affected and how fiscal policy has reacted in the first months after the outbreak of the crisis. In general and in line with earlier downturns, SCG’s public finance appear to be less affected than central governments. However, SCGs suffer from a scissors effect of higher spending and lower tax revenue, specially those with a volatile tax base and large social welfare responsibilities. While some SCGs were conducting their own stimulus plans, others cut expenditures and raised taxes, potentially undermining national government’s recovery programmes. Most national governments are helping SCGs to cope with the crisis, by disbursing additional grants and supporting investment programmes, by easing centrally-imposed fiscal rules, lifting borrowing constraints or by temporarily raising the sub-central tax share. The crisis also showed the need for better coordination in intergovernmental fiscal relations, both for more macroeconomic coherence and for efficiency in public service delivery. Several countries are creating or reinvigorating their institutions for managing relations across levels of government. Gouvernements infra-nationaux et la crise : Effets et politiques Le monde se relève lentement de la crise la plus profonde depuis la Grande Dépression, mais les séquelles de celle-ci sur les finances publiques des pays Membres seront durables. Cet article analyse l’impact de la crise sur les collectivités territoriales (CT) et comment les politiques budgétaires ont été adaptées pour répondre à la crise pendant les tout premiers mois. En règle générale, comme dans les récessions antérieures, les finances publiques infranationales semblent moins touchées que celles des gouvernements centraux. Cependant, les CT sont confrontées à un effet « ciseaux », où leurs dépenses augmentent alors que leurs recettes fiscales diminuent. Cet effet est d’autant plus important que l’assiette fiscale des CT est volatile, et que leurs responsabilités en termes de protection sociale sont importantes. Certaines CT ont mis en oeuvre leurs propres plans de relance, alors que d’autres au contraire ont réduit leurs dépenses et augmenté les impôts, compromettant ainsi l’efficacité des plans de relance nationaux. La plupart des gouvernements nationaux ont soutenu les CT, en leur attribuant des transferts exceptionnels, en participant à leurs programmes d’investissement, en relâchant les règles budgétaires ainsi que les plafonds d’endettement fixés auparavant, ou en augmentant temporairement la part des CT dans le partage des recettes fiscales. Cette crise a révélé le besoin d’améliorer la coordination budgétaire entre niveaux de gouvernement, tant dans un souci de cohérence macroéconomique que d’efficacité dans la provision de services publics. Dans ce but, plusieurs pays ont créé ou renforcé leurs institutions chargées de gérer les relations entre niveaux de gouvernement.

Suggested Citation

  • Hansjörg Blöchliger & Claire Charbit & José Maria Pinero Campos & Camila Vammalle, 2010. "Sub-central Governments and the Economic Crisis: Impact and Policy Responses," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 752, OECD Publishing.
  • Handle: RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:752-en
    DOI: 10.1787/5kml6xq5bgwc-en
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Balázs Égert, 2014. "Fiscal policy reaction to the cycle in the OECD: pro- or counter-cyclical?," Mondes en développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(3), pages 35-52.
    2. Aldona Standar & Agnieszka Kozera, 2019. "The Role of Local Finance in Overcoming Socioeconomic Inequalities in Polish Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-28, October.
    3. Agnieszka Kozera & Małgorzata Dworakowska-Raj & Aldona Standar, 2021. "Role of Local Investments in Creating Rural Development in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-30, March.
    4. Eichengreen, Barry & Jung, Naeun & Moch, Stephen & Mody, Ashoka, 2014. "The Eurozone Crisis: Phoenix Miracle or Lost Decade?," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 39(PB), pages 288-308.
    5. Hansjörg Blöchliger, 2013. "Fiscal Consolidation Across Government Levels - Part 1. How Much, What Policies?," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1070, OECD Publishing.
    6. Turley Gerard & McNena Stephen & Robbins Geraldine, 2018. "Austerity and Irish local government expenditure since the Great Recession," Administration, Sciendo, vol. 66(4), pages 1-24, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    collectivités territoriales; crise économique; economic crisis; fiscal federalism; fédéralisme fiscal; politique budgétaire au niveau infranational; recession; recovery; relance; récession; sub-central governments; sub-national fiscal policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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