Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Private Savings in a Developing Country

In this article, we provide empirical evidence on the long-run relationship between fiscal decentralization and private savings in a developing country. We take into consideration the particular impact of fiscal decentralization on private savings and investment as vehicles for fostering growth in Pakistan over a period of almost four decades (1972–2010). Additionally, we use the same dataset to capture the short-run dynamics between these variables. We find a significant and positive correlation between fiscal decentralization and private savings in Pakistan during the period in question. To test this relationship for the long run, we have resorted to co-integrated variables; by contrast, for analysis of the short run, we used a vector error correction model (ECM). Private savings are positively correlated with the fiscal decentralization process from a revenue perspective. Though previous empirical studies have shown mixed results—in the sense that inconclusive outcomes still prevail when linking growth and fiscal federalism—our findings could be of major interest to other developing countries currently undertaking fiscal decentralization. According to our analysis, fiscal decentralization may indeed play a key role in promoting economic growth in developing countries.