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National Expenditure Rules in the EU An Analysis of Effectiveness and Compliance

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  • Cristiana Belu Manescu
  • Elva Bova

Abstract

This study reviews national expenditure rules currently in force in the EU, examining their design, effectiveness and the extent to which they have been complied with. Based on evidence from the Commission’s Fiscal Governance Database and using a novel database on compliance and econometric estimation, this study finds that out of the 14 expenditure rules covering general and central governments, half mirror the EU expenditure benchmark while four rules are multi-annual expenditure ceilings, with varying binding force. Empirical estimates over the 1999-2016 period confirm that while fiscal policy is indeed pro-cyclical in the EU, the magnitude of the pro-cyclical bias is lower in presence of expenditure rules. Moreover, the better the expenditure rule design in terms of legal base, independent monitoring, consequences for non-compliance or coverage, the stronger the mitigating effect. Finally, we find that expenditure rules were complied with in about 78 percent of cases, with compliance being better for multiannual expenditure ceilings than for rules specified as growth rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristiana Belu Manescu & Elva Bova, 2020. "National Expenditure Rules in the EU An Analysis of Effectiveness and Compliance," European Economy - Discussion Papers 124, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    • Handle: RePEc:euf:dispap:124
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xavier Debrun & Laurent Moulin & Alessandro Turrini & Joaquim Ayuso-i-Casals & Manmohan S. Kumar, 2008. "Tied to the mast? National fiscal rules in the European Union [‘Constitutions, politics, and economics’]," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 23(54), pages 298-362.
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    3. Peter Wierts, 2008. "How do Expenditure Rules affect Fiscal Behaviour?," DNB Working Papers 166, Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department.
    4. Tapsoba, René, 2012. "Do National Numerical Fiscal Rules really shape fiscal behaviours in developing countries? A treatment effect evaluation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 1356-1369.
    5. F. Holm-Hadulla & S. Hauptmeier & P. Rother, 2012. "The impact of expenditure rules on budgetary discipline over the cycle," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(25), pages 3287-3296, September.
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    7. Alessandro Turrini, 2008. "Fiscal policy and the cycle in the Euro Area: The role of government revenue and expenditure," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 323, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    8. Momi Dahan & Michel Strawczynski, 2013. "Fiscal Rules and the Composition of Government Expenditures in OECD Countries," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 484-504, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mihaela Tofan & Mihaela Onofrei & Anca-Florentina Vatamanu, 2020. "Fiscal Responsibility Legal Framework—New Paradigm for Fiscal Discipline in the EU," Risks, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Olga Francová & Ermal Hitaj & John Goossen & Robert Kraemer & Andreja Lenarčič & Georgios Palaiodimos, 2021. "EU fiscal rules: reform considerations," Discussion Papers 17, European Stability Mechanism, revised 25 Oct 2021.
    3. Kuusi, Tero & Puonti, Päivi, 2021. "Keep It Simple, Not Stupid – How to Save the EU Fiscal Framework?," ETLA Reports 120, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies
    • H6 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt

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