This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Closing the gap: fiscal imbalances and intergovernmental transfers in developed federations

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Richard M Bird
Andrey V Tarasov

Additional information is available for the following registered author(s):

Abstract

This paper discusses the concepts of vertical fiscal imbalance (the fiscal gap) and horizontal fiscal imbalance (equalization) and uses several statistics to measure these concepts for the eight developed federal countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. Although the periods covered and the detail provided vary from country to country because of limitations in data availability, the overall coverage in this paper seems more complete and comparable than in previous studies. The paper also outlines briefly the types of intergovernmental fiscal transfers used to deal with fiscal imbalances in the eight countries under consideration. Although this account is necessarily highly condensed, given the complexity of transfer systems in most countries, the frequency with which changes are made, and the difficulty of obtaining complete information, it is nonetheless broadly accurate.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.envplan.com/abstract.cgi?id=c0328
File Format: text/html
File Function: abstract
Download Restriction: Fulltext access restricted to subscribers, see http://www.envplan.co.uk/C.html for details
File URL: http://www.envplan.com/epc/fulltext/c22/c0328.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: main text
Download Restriction: Fulltext access restricted to subscribers, see http://www.envplan.co.uk/C.html for details

As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.

Publisher Info
Article provided by Pion Ltd, London in its journal Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy.

Volume (Year): 22 (2004)
Issue (Month): 1 (February)
Pages: 77-102
Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Handle: RePEc:pio:envirc:v:22:y:2004:i:1:p:77-102

Contact details of provider:
Web page: http://www.pion.co.uk

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Neil Hammond).

Related research
Keywords:

Other versions of this item:

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Antoni Castells, 2001. "The role of intergovernmental finance in achieving diversity and cohesion: the case of Spain," Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Pion Ltd, London, vol. 19(2), pages 189-206, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Shankar, Raja & Shah, Anwar, 2003. "Bridging the Economic Divide Within Countries: A Scorecard on the Performance of Regional Policies in Reducing Regional Income Disparities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 1421-1441, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Ebel, Robert D. & Yilmaz, Serdar, 2002. "On the measurement and impact of fiscal decentralization," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2809, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
  4. Richard A. Musgrave, 1961. "Approaches to A Fiscal Theory of Political Federalism," NBER Chapters, in: Public Finances: Needs, Sources, and Utilization, pages 97-134 National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!]
  5. Bernd Huber, 2000. "A Tax on Tax Revenue. The Incentive Effects of Equalizing Transfers: Evidence from Germany," CESifo Working Paper Series CESifo Working Paper No. , CESifo Group Munich. [Downloadable!]
  6. Walter Hettich & Stanley L. Winer, 1986. "Vertical Imbalance in the Fiscal Systems of Federal States," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 19(4), pages 745-65, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. repec:cup:cbooks:9780521518215 is not listed on IDEAS
  8. Richard M Bird & François Vaillancourt, 2001. "Fiscal arrangements for maintaining an effective state in Canada," Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Pion Ltd, London, vol. 19(2), pages 163-187, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Luis A. Hierro & Pedro Atienza & David Patiño, 2007. "Inequality and Progressiveness in the Distribution of Revenues of the States in Federal Countries: A Comparitive Study," International Studies Program Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0703, International Studies Program, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. [Downloadable!]
  2. Francois Vaillancourt & Richard M. Bird, 2005. "The Interregional Incidence of Public Budgets in Federations: Measurement Issues, Evidence from Canada, and Policy Relevance," International Tax Program Papers 0510, International Tax Program, Institute for International Business, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. [Downloadable!]
  3. Robin Boadway & Jean-Francois Tremblay, 2005. "A Theory of Vertical Fiscal Imbalance," Working Papers 2006-04, University of Kentucky, Institute for Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Richard M. Bird, 2008. "Tax Assignment Revisited," International Studies Program Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0805, International Studies Program, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. [Downloadable!]
  5. Juan Luís Gómez & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Cristian Sepúlveda, 2007. "Equalization Transfers in Romania: Current System and Proposals for Reform," International Studies Program Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0701, International Studies Program, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. [Downloadable!]
  6. Richard M. Bird, 2003. "Fiscal Flows, Fiscal Balance, and Fiscal Sustainability," International Studies Program Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0302, International Studies Program, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. [Downloadable!]
  7. Richard Bird, 2001. "Fiscal Federalism in Russia: A Canadian Perspective," International Tax Program Papers 0409, International Tax Program, Institute for International Business, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, revised Dec 2003. [Downloadable!]
  8. Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Cristian Sepúlveda, 2008. "The Municipal Transfer System in Nicaragua: Evaluation and Proposals for Reform," International Studies Program Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0801, International Studies Program, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? You too can volunteer for RePEc, for example by providing information about publications in your institution.

This page was last updated on 2009-11-26.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.