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The spending power of sub-central governments: A pilot study

Author

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  • Steffen Bach

    (OECD)

  • Hansjörg Blöchliger

    (OECD)

  • Dominik Wallau

    (OECD)

Abstract

This pilot study presents indicators that assess sub-central government (SCG) spending power by policy area. Traditional indicators – such as the share of SCG in total government spending – are often misleading as they underestimate the impact of central government regulation on sub-central spending patterns. In order to gauge true spending power, a set of institutional indicators is established, based on a detailed assessment of institutional, regulatory and administrative control central government exerts over various SCG policy areas. Results tend to confirm the limited discretion of SCGs over their own budget. Education in particular – the main SCG budget item in most countries – is strongly shaped by central government regulation. Federal countries tend to grant more spending power to SCGs than unitary countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Bach & Hansjörg Blöchliger & Dominik Wallau, 2018. "The spending power of sub-central governments: A pilot study," OECD Working Papers on Fiscal Federalism 08, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:ctpaab:08-en
    DOI: 10.1787/11ef2bee-en
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    Cited by:

    1. Kopańska Agnieszka, 2018. "Partial Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Spending Policy," Financial Internet Quarterly (formerly e-Finanse), Sciendo, vol. 14(3), pages 21-31, September.
    2. Dubravka Jurlina Alibegovic, 2014. "Fiscal Autonomy ? Opportunity or Limitation for Innovative Local Development in Croatia?," ERSA conference papers ersa14p945, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Gülşen Kum, 2017. "Heat Waves in the City of Gaziantep in Turkey," European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 2, September.
    4. Ms. Izabela Karpowicz, 2012. "Narrowing Vertical Fiscal Imbalances in Four European Countries," IMF Working Papers 2012/091, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Mr. Luc Eyraud & Ms. Lusine Lusinyan, 2011. "Decentralizing Spending More Than Revenue: Does it Hurt Fiscal Performance?," IMF Working Papers 2011/226, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Mr. Luc Eyraud & Ms. Marialuz Moreno Badia, 2013. "Too Small to Fail? Subnational Spending Pressures in Europe," IMF Working Papers 2013/046, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Mbanda, Vandudzai & Bonga-Bonga, Lumengo, 2019. "Municipal infrastructure spending capacity in South Africa: a panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) approach," MPRA Paper 91499, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Agnieszka Kopańska, 2016. "Partial decentralization and its influence on local governments’ spending policy. An analysis of spending for teachers and other resources needed for schools," Working Papers 2016-38, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    9. Christine Fauvelle-Aymar, 2014. "The welfare state, migration, and voting rights," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 105-120, April.
    10. Bernard F. Couttolenc, 2012. "Decentralization and Governance in the Ghana Health Sector," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 9376, December.
    11. Michael Klien & Hans Pitlik & Matthias Firgo & Ulrike Famira-Mühlberger, 2020. "Ein Modell für einen strukturierten vertikalen Finanzausgleich in Österreich," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 65854, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    fiscal discipline; fiscal rules; indicators; Sub-central government;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C43 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Index Numbers and Aggregation
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • H74 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Borrowing
    • H81 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Governmental Loans; Loan Guarantees; Credits; Grants; Bailouts

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