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Fiscal Councils and Creative Accounting in EU Member States

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  • Dominik MALTRITZ

    (University of Erfurt)

Abstract

We study the relationship between fiscal councils and creative accounting in 27 European Union (EU) countries. We use stock-flow adjustments to indicate creative accounting and relate them to our fiscal council indicator in a panel framework. Regarding the fiscal rules that trigger creative accounting, we distinguish between external (resulting from European Monetary Union membership) and internal fiscal rules. While fiscal councils are not significant when used as stand-alone variable their interaction with fiscal rules is significant. Our findings indicate that fiscal councils reduce creative accounting triggered by fiscal rules and thus help to enforce fiscal rules and sound fiscal policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Dominik MALTRITZ, 2024. "Fiscal Councils and Creative Accounting in EU Member States," Journal of Economics and Financial Analysis, Tripal Publishing House, vol. 8(2), pages 23-45.
    • Handle: RePEc:trp:01jefa:jefa0075
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shanna Rose, 2006. "Do fiscal rules dampen the political business cycle?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 128(3), pages 407-431, September.
    2. von Hagen, Jurgen & Wolff, Guntram B., 2006. "What do deficits tell us about debt? Empirical evidence on creative accounting with fiscal rules in the EU," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(12), pages 3259-3279, December.
    3. Vincent Koen & Paul van den Noord, 2005. "Fiscal Gimmickry in Europe: One-Off Measures and Creative Accounting," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 417, OECD Publishing.
    4. Milesi-Ferretti, Gian Maria & Moriyama, Kenji, 2006. "Fiscal adjustment in EU countries: A balance sheet approach," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(12), pages 3281-3298, December.
    5. von Hagen, Jurgen, 1991. "A note on the empirical effectiveness of formal fiscal restraints," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 199-210, March.
    6. Dafflon, Bernard & Rossi, Sergio, 1999. "Public Accounting Fudges towards EMU: A First Empirical Survey and Some Public Choice Considerations," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 101(1-2), pages 59-84, October.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration

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