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The Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Growth, Inflation, and Inequality in the Americas

Author

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  • Antonio N. Bojanic

    (Department of Economics, Tulane University)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of fiscal decentralization on economic growth, the inflation rate, and the GINI coefficient in eleven American countries. The findings suggest that the expected positive impacts of this process have been modest, with revenue decentralization being more effective at preventing inflation, and expenditure decentralization showing greater tendency to positively influence growth. The flipside of these findings is that in the full sample of countries revenue decentralization deters growth while expenditure decentralization seems to foster inflation. With regards to the impact on the GINI coefficient, fiscal decentralization seems to be, at best, a marginal, negative influence on income distribution. The main recommendation is that American nations should pause and analyze the reasons why this process of fiscal devolution of responsibilities has not delivered on its promise of greater growth, price stability, and less income inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio N. Bojanic, 2016. "The Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Growth, Inflation, and Inequality in the Americas," Working Papers 1610, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tul:wpaper:1610
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    7. Vid Adrison & Masarina Flukeria, 2016. "Lowering Regional Inflation? Improve Budget Absorption," Economics and Finance in Indonesia, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, vol. 62, pages 67-77, August.
    8. Antonio N. Bojanic, 2018. "The Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Accountability, Economic Freedom, and Political and Civil Liberties in the Americas," Economies, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-20, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal decentralization; economic growth; inflation; income inequality.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O50 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - General

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