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Fiscal Responsibility Laws: Are They Needed?

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  • IAN LIENERT

    (Toulouse, France)

Abstract

Can fiscal transparency, accountability and macro-fiscal stabilization be imposed by adopting a fiscal responsibility law (FRL)? Skeptics argue that law is impotent or that the existing legal framework for the budget system suffices. In Europe, supranational fiscal rules were previously seen to be adequate. After reviewing the experience with FRLs around the world, this paper concludes that FRLs enhance fiscal transparency and accountability. However, the adoption of a FRL for attaining fiscal stability goals succeeds only if there is strong political commitment to fiscal discipline. Also, the inclusion of quantitative fiscal rules in FRLs is a high-risk undertaking.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Lienert, 2013. "Fiscal Responsibility Laws: Are They Needed?," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(03), pages 1-32.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jicepx:v:04:y:2013:i:03:n:s1793993313500178
    DOI: 10.1142/S1793993313500178
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mihaela Onofrei & Tudorel Toader & Anca Florentina Vatamanu & Florin Oprea, 2021. "Impact of Governments’ Fiscal Behaviors on Public Finance Sustainability: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Afrah Junita & Erlina & Erwin Abubakar & Syukriy Abdullah, 2018. "The Effect of Budget Variances on the Local Government Budget Changes with Legislature Size as Moderator," Academic Journal of Economic Studies, Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accountancy Bucharest,"Dimitrie Cantemir" Christian University Bucharest, vol. 4(1), pages 162-173, March.
    4. Mihaela Onofrei & Anca Gavriluţă (Vatamanu) & Ionel Bostan & Florin Oprea & Gigel Paraschiv & Cristina Mihaela Lazăr, 2020. "The Implication of Fiscal Principles and Rules on Promoting Sustainable Public Finances in the EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal; responsibility; accountability; transparency; stability; sustainability; law; budget; H30; H50; H60; H61; H62; H63; H68; K00; K39;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General
    • H61 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Budget; Budget Systems
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • H68 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Forecasts of Budgets, Deficits, and Debt
    • K00 - Law and Economics - - General - - - General (including Data Sources and Description)
    • K39 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Other

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