IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ipf/psejou/v42y2018i4p449-486.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Determinants of subnational budget/fiscal transparency: a review of empirical evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Branko Stanic

    (Institute of Public Finance, Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

This paper provides a review of empirical research on the factors determining the budget/fiscal transparency of subnational governments. It focuses on academic online databases by conducting keyword searches that take in papers published in the period 2000-2017. Three important observations can be made: (1) there is a lack of a unique definition of budget/fiscal transparency; (2) the different definitions lead to disharmonised budget/fiscal transparency measurements; (3) there is a heterogeneity of the definition and measurement of some explanatory variables that can lead to apparent contradictions and inconsistencies in the results obtained. However, the paper provides a balanced account of core explanatory factors, emphasizing variables that, despite heterogeneity in definition and measurement, have a significant impact on the levels of subnational government budget/ fiscal transparency. Since the review involves mainly online disclosure, future studies might want to extend the observation period, or implement systematic reviews and meta-analyses to gain additional insights on this topic.

Suggested Citation

  • Branko Stanic, 2018. "Determinants of subnational budget/fiscal transparency: a review of empirical evidence," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 42(4), pages 449-486.
    • Handle: RePEc:ipf:psejou:v:42:y:2018:i:4:p:449-486
    DOI: 10.3326/pse.42.4.4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.pse-journal.hr/upload/files/pse/2018/4/4.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.3326/pse.42.4.4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andreula, Nicoló & Chong, Alberto E. & Guillén, Jorge, 2009. "Institutional Quality and Fiscal Transparency," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 1663, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Fox, Jonathan A, 2007. "The uncertain relationship between transparency and accountability," Center for Global, International and Regional Studies, Working Paper Series qt8c25c3z4, Center for Global, International and Regional Studies, UC Santa Cruz.
    3. Daniel Albalate del Sol, 2013. "The institutional, economic and social determinants of local government transparency," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 90-107.
    4. Debreceny, Roger & Gray, Glen L. & Rahman, Asheq, 2002. "The determinants of Internet financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(4-5), pages 371-394.
    5. Berliner, Daniel & Erlich, Aaron, 2015. "Competing for Transparency: Political Competition and Institutional Reform in Mexican States," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 109(1), pages 110-128, February.
    6. Daniel Albalate del Sol, 2013. "The institutional, economic and social determinants of local government transparency," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 90-107, March.
    7. Carlos Serrano-Cinca & Mar Rueda-Tomás & Pilar Portillo-Tarragona, 2009. "Factors Influencing E-Disclosure in Local Public Administrations," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 27(2), pages 355-378, April.
    8. Laswad, Fawzi & Fisher, Richard & Oyelere, Peter, 2005. "Determinants of voluntary Internet financial reporting by local government authorities," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 101-121.
    9. Karl Widerquist, 2018. "The Bottom Line," Exploring the Basic Income Guarantee, in: A Critical Analysis of Basic Income Experiments for Researchers, Policymakers, and Citizens, chapter 0, pages 93-98, Palgrave Macmillan.
    10. Ingram, Rw, 1984. "Economic Incentives And The Choice Of State Government Accounting Practices," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 126-144.
    11. Richard A. Bernardi & Donald F. Arnold, 1997. "An Examination of Moral Development within Public Accounting by Gender, Staff Level, and Firm," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 653-668, December.
    12. Evans, Jh & Patton, Jm, 1987. "Signaling And Monitoring In Public-Sector Accounting," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25, pages 130-164.
    13. Wehner, Joachim & de Renzio, Paolo, 2013. "Citizens, Legislators, and Executive Disclosure: The Political Determinants of Fiscal Transparency," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 96-108.
    14. James E. Alt & David Dreyer Lassen & Shanna Rose, 2006. "The Causes of Fiscal Transparency: Evidence from the U.S. States," IMF Staff Papers, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 53(si), pages 1-2.
    15. Oecd, 2002. "OECD Best Practices for Budget Transparency," OECD Journal on Budgeting, OECD Publishing, vol. 1(3), pages 7-14.
    16. Nicolo Andreula & Alberto Chong & Jorge Guillen, 2009. "Institutional Quality and Fiscal Transparency," Research Department Publications 4647, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    17. John Ferejohn, 1986. "Incumbent performance and electoral control," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 5-25, January.
    18. Zimmerman, Jl, 1977. "Municipal Accounting Maze - Analysis Of Political Incentives," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15, pages 107-155.
    19. Gopal Krishnan & Linda Parsons, 2008. "Getting to the Bottom Line: An Exploration of Gender and Earnings Quality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 78(1), pages 65-76, March.
    20. Mr. George Kopits & Mr. J. D. Craig, 1998. "Transparency in Government Operations," IMF Occasional Papers 1998/001, International Monetary Fund.
    21. Gore, Angela K & Sachs, Kevin & Trzcinka, Charles, 2004. "Financial Disclosure and Bond Insurance," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 47(1), pages 275-306, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paulo Reis Mourao & Mihaela Bronić & Branko Stanić, 2020. "Discussing the determinants of online budget transparency based on a spatial regression analysis of Croatian cities and municipalities: Do good neighbours make you better?," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 268-287, September.
    2. Katarina Ott & Velibor Maèkiæ & Mihaela Broniæ, 2019. "Political Stubbornness and Online Local Budget Transparency in Croatia," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 37(2), pages 553-585.
    3. Lorenzo Cicatiello & Elina Simone & Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta, 2017. "Political determinants of fiscal transparency: a panel data empirical investigation," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 315-336, November.
    4. Carlos Serrano-Cinca & Mar Rueda-Tomás & Pilar Portillo-Tarragona, 2009. "Factors Influencing E-Disclosure in Local Public Administrations," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 27(2), pages 355-378, April.
    5. Montes, Gabriel Caldas & da Cunha Lima, Luiza Leitão, 2018. "Effects of fiscal transparency on inflation and inflation expectations: Empirical evidence from developed and developing countries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 26-37.
    6. Gabriel Caldas Montes & Paulo Henrique Luna, 2021. "Fiscal transparency, legal system and perception of the control on corruption: empirical evidence from panel data," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 2005-2037, April.
    7. Cicatiello, Lorenzo & De Simone, Elina & Ercolano, Salvatore & Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio, 2021. "Assessing the impact of fiscal transparency on FDI inflows," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Javier Garcia-Lacalle & Lourdes Torres, 2021. "Financial Reporting Quality and Online Disclosure Practices in Spanish Governmental Agencies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Nolan Kido & Reining Petacchi & Joseph Weber, 2012. "The Influence of Elections on the Accounting Choices of Governmental Entities," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 443-476, May.
    10. Wen Wang & Bo Zhao, 2017. "Transparency in state debt disclosure," Working Papers 17-10, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    11. Changwony, Frederick Kibon & Paterson, Audrey S., 2019. "Accounting practice, fiscal decentralization and corruption," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(5).
    12. Berliner, Daniel & Bagozzi, Benjamin E. & Palmer-Rubin, Brian, 2018. "What information do citizens want? Evidence from one million information requests in Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 222-235.
    13. 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.
    14. Cañizares-Espada Manuela & Muñoz-Colomina Clara Isabel & Pérez-Estébanez Raquel & Urquía-Grande Elena, 2021. "Transparency and Accessibility in Municipalities: The Case of Social Services in Spain," Central European Journal of Public Policy, Sciendo, vol. 15(5), pages 31-54, June.
    15. Johnathon Cziffra & Steve Fortin & Zvi Singer, 2023. "Differences in government accounting conservatism across jurisdictions, their determinants, and consequences: the case of Canada and the United States," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 1035-1073, June.
    16. Claudio Columbano, 2022. "Measuring fiscal guidance transparency," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 46(2), pages 261-296.
    17. Rasa Kanapickiene & Greta Keliuotyte-Staniuleniene, 2019. "Disclosure of Non-Current Tangible Assets Information in Local Government Financial Statements: The Case of Lithuania," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-25, December.
    18. Li Huang & Oliver Zhen Li & Yang Yi, 2021. "Government disclosure in influencing people’s behaviors during a public health emergency," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    19. Carmen, COMANICIU, 2016. "Some Coordinates Concerning The Fiscal Transparency From Romania," Management Strategies Journal, Constantin Brancoveanu University, vol. 31(1), pages 60-67.
    20. Ana Cárcaba & Eduardo González & Juan Ventura & Rubén Arrondo, 2017. "How Does Good Governance Relate to Quality of Life?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    subnational governments; budget transparency; empirical review; main determinants;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ipf:psejou:v:42:y:2018:i:4:p:449-486. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Martina Fabris (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ijfffhr.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.