IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ays/ispwps/paper0705.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The Role of Provincial Policies in Fiscal Equalization Outcomes in China

Author

Abstract

In this paper, we use pooled data for central-provincial and provincial-local governments in 2000-01, overall involving over 4000 sub-provincial governments, to assess China 's sub-national fiscal equalization practices and outcomes. Our goal is to explain horizontal fiscal disparities between and within provinces, with a special focus on the role played by intermediate-level governments, particularly the provincial governments, on overall equalization outcomes in China . The significant policy implication of our findings is that if the goal of the central government is to improve equity in the distribution of fiscal resources throughout the entire national territory, it will not be enough to improve the design and size of central-provincial transfers. There will be a need to re-structure and control the structure and practices of provincial-local government transfers.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Baoyun Qiao & Li Zhang, 2007. "The Role of Provincial Policies in Fiscal Equalization Outcomes in China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0705, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper0705
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://icepp.gsu.edu/files/2015/03/ispwp0705.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yingyi Qian & Barry R. Weingast, 1997. "Federalism as a Commitment to Reserving Market Incentives," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 11(4), pages 83-92, Fall.
    2. repec:bla:jpbect:v:1:y:1999:i:2:p:205-24 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Dilip Mookherjee & Pranab K. Bardhan, 2000. "Capture and Governance at Local and National Levels," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(2), pages 135-139, May.
    4. Bahl, Roy W. & Wallich, Christine, 1992. "Intergovernmental fiscal relations in China," Policy Research Working Paper Series 863, The World Bank.
    5. Zhihua Zhang & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, 2003. "The System of Equalization Transfers in China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0312, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    6. Besley, Timothy & Coate, Stephen, 2003. "Centralized versus decentralized provision of local public goods: a political economy approach," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(12), pages 2611-2637, December.
    7. Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge & Timofeev, Andrey, 2008. "Regional-local dimension of Russia's fiscal equalization," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 157-176, March.
    8. Seabright, Paul, 1996. "Accountability and decentralisation in government: An incomplete contracts model," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 61-89, January.
    9. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Challenges and Policy Options," CEMA Working Papers 549, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    10. Jan K. Brueckner, 1999. "Fiscal Federalism and Capital Accumulation," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 1(2), pages 205-224, April.
    11. de Mello, Luiz & Sab, Randa, 2002. "Government spending, rights, and civil liberties," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 257-276, September.
    12. Roy Bahl & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, 2003. "Fiscal Federalism and Economic Reform in China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0313, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    13. International Monetary Fund, 2000. "Government Spending, Rights, and Civil Liberties," IMF Working Papers 2000/205, International Monetary Fund.
    14. Bird, Richard M. & Smart, Michael, 2002. "Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers: International Lessons for Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 899-912, June.
    15. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Li Zhang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Policy Options," CEMA Working Papers 554, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    16. Brennan, Geoffrey & Buchanan, James M., 1978. "Tax instruments as constraints on the disposition of public revenues," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 301-318, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Alfred M. & Wang, Wen, 2013. "Determinants of Expenditure Decentralization: Evidence from China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 176-184.
    2. Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Baoyun Qiao, 2010. "Expenditure Assignments in China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1028, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    3. Huang, Bihong & Chen, Kang, 2012. "Are intergovernmental transfers in China equalizing?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 534-551.
    4. Lv, Bingyang & Liu, Yongzheng & Li, Yan & Ding, Siying, 2018. "Fiscal incentives, competition, and investment in China," BOFIT Discussion Papers 20/2018, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.
    5. repec:zbw:bofitp:2018_020 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Yongzheng Liu & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Baoyun Qiao, 2014. "Falling Short: Intergovernmental Transfers in China," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1423, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Revenues of Local Governments," CEMA Working Papers 551, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    2. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qiao & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2014. "An Essay on Public Finance in China," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 15(1), pages 413-519, May.
    3. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Expenditure Responsibilities of Local Governments," CEMA Working Papers 550, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    4. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: The performance of China's decentralization system," CEMA Working Papers 553, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    5. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2012. "A Treaties on Public Finance in China," CEMA Working Papers 555, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    6. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Li Zhang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Policy Options," CEMA Working Papers 554, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    7. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Intergovernmental transfers," CEMA Working Papers 552, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    8. Jorge Martinez & Baoyun Qian & Shuilin Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2006. "Local Public Finance in China: Challenges and Policy Options," CEMA Working Papers 549, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    9. Besfamille, Martin & Lockwood, Ben, 2004. "Are Hard Budget Constraints for Sub-National Governments Always Efficient?," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 717, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    10. Prakash Chandra Jha, 2015. "Theory of fiscal federalism: an analysis," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 17(2), pages 241-259, October.
    11. Chunli Shen & Jing Jin & Heng-fu Zou, 2012. "Fiscal Decentralization in China: History, Impact, Challenges and Next Steps," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 13(1), pages 1-51, May.
    12. Gijs Roelofs & Daniel Vuuren, 2017. "The Decentralization of Social Assistance and the Rise of Disability Insurance Enrolment," De Economist, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-21, March.
    13. Fernando Albornoz & Antonio Cabrales, 2010. "Fiscal Centralization and the Political Process," Working Papers 2010-02, FEDEA.
    14. Oskar Nupia, 2007. "Decentralization, corruption, and political accountability in developing countries," Documentos CEDE 4013, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    15. Hindriks, Jean & Lockwood, Ben, 2009. "Decentralization and electoral accountability: Incentives, separation and voter welfare," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 385-397, September.
    16. Michele Cincera & Antonio Estache & Wolf Alexander, 2012. "Would Less Fiscal Decentralization Reduce Public Sector Size across Sectors in Europe ?," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2012-028, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    17. Jose M Alonso & Rhys Andrews, 2019. "Fiscal decentralisation and local government efficiency: Does relative deprivation matter?," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 37(2), pages 360-381, March.
    18. Marta Espasa & Alejandro Esteller-Moré & Toni Mora, 2017. "Is Decentralization Really Welfare Enhancing? Empirical Evidence from Survey Data (1994-2011)," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(2), pages 189-219, May.
    19. Raúl A. Ponce-Rodríguez & Charles R. Hankla & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Eunice Heredia-Ortiz, 2020. "The politics of fiscal federalism: Building a stronger decentralization theorem," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 32(4), pages 605-639, October.
    20. Paula Salinas & Albert Solé-Ollé, 2009. "Evaluating the effects of decentralization on educational outcomes in Spain," Working Papers 2009/10, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal Equalization; central-Provincial; China; sub-national fiscal equalization;
    All these keywords.

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ays:ispwps:paper0705. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Paul Benson (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ispgsus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.