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Fiscal competition and reality: A time series approach

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  • Zsolt Becsi

Abstract

Strategic interjurisdictional behavior and the interaction over time of the mean and dispersion of average tax rates across states are analyzed in a vector autoregression model. Variance decompositions reveal that fiscal competition explains roughly one-third of the time variation of state and local taxes. Impulse response functions identify the type of fiscal competition and the characteristics of leaders and followers. Local tax dynamics agree with Wildasin's (1988) results on expenditure competition with significant short- and medium-run effects but insignificant long-run effects. State tax dynamics conform to tax export competition with significant effects occurring over a relatively short time.

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  • Zsolt Becsi, 1998. "Fiscal competition and reality: A time series approach," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 98-19, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedawp:98-19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Trang Hoang, 2022. "Fiscal competition and state pension reforms," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3), pages 41-70, September.
    2. Y. Chen & W. H. Huang & P. J. Regis, 2014. "Do Asia and Pacific countries compete in corporate tax rates?," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 25-51, January.
    3. Ann Cavlovic & Harriet Jackson, "undated". "Bother thy neighbour? Intergovernmental Tax Interactions in the Canadian Federation," Working Papers-Department of Finance Canada 2003-09, Department of Finance Canada.

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    Keywords

    state finances; time series analysis;

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