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European Fiscal Union: Economic rationale and design challenges

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  • Thirion, Gilles

Abstract

Proposals for different types of elements of a fiscal union have flourished in recent years, both from academic and policy circles. Since a fiscal union could take a constellation of various different forms, this paper first provides an analytical framework pinpointing the five key elements of a fiscal union. It takes stock of the existing features of economic and monetary union (EMU) that embed some form of fiscal union, and then critically analyses the main arguments for and against further fiscal integration. Finally, It surveys the key proposals for a fiscal capacity and different types of Eurobonds. Gilles Thirion is a Researcher at CEPS. This paper was prepared as a deliverable for the Horizon 2020 FIRSTRUN project on ��Fiscal Rules and Strategies under Externalities and Uncertainties� commissioned by the European Commission.

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  • Thirion, Gilles, 2017. "European Fiscal Union: Economic rationale and design challenges," CEPS Papers 12160, Centre for European Policy Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:eps:cepswp:12160
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    3. Gandullia, Luca & Praussello, Franco, 2018. "Fixing the Eurozone Setup: On Viable Forms of Fiscal Union," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 71(3), pages 289-316.
    4. Bethlendi, András & Lentner, Csaba & Póra, András, 2020. "Független költségvetési intézmények fejlődése a 2008-as válság után [Development of independent fiscal institutions since the crisis of 2008]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 787-808.
    5. Magdalena Kąkol, 2017. "Designing a fiscal union for the euro area," Ekonomia i Prawo, Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, vol. 16(4), pages 413-432, December.
    6. Oręziak Leokadia, 2018. "Fiscal federalism and a separate budget for the euro area," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 54(2), pages 85-98, June.
    7. Alcidi, Cinzia & Thirion, Gilles, 2017. "Fiscal Risk Sharing and Resilience to Shocks: Lessons for the euro area from the US," CEPS Papers 12595, Centre for European Policy Studies.

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