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Do commitment and enforcement of fiscal rules enhance fiscal stability? Evidence from European Union countries

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  • López-Villavicencio, Antonia
  • Zoumenou, Jocelyne

Abstract

We study the impact of fiscal rules on EU countries’ fiscal stability, particularly within the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) framework. By rigorously addressing endogeneity concerns, we show that, among all the rules imposed by the SGP, compliance with budget balance rules (BBR) and to a lesser extent, deficit rules, are the only ones that contribute to fiscal stability. However, countries that comply with other targets – either individually, simultaneously, or by adopting a constitutional BBR – do not perform better than those that comply exclusively with the budget balance rule. Finally, our results suggest that strong fiscal rules are not necessary to achieve better fiscal discipline.

Suggested Citation

  • López-Villavicencio, Antonia & Zoumenou, Jocelyne, 2025. "Do commitment and enforcement of fiscal rules enhance fiscal stability? Evidence from European Union countries," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:84:y:2025:i:c:s0164070425000011
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2025.103664
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal rules; Compliance; European Union; Instrumental variables; Treatment effect models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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