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Myths and Facts about Fiscal Discretion: A New Measure of Discretionary Expenditure

Author

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  • Fabrizio Coricelli

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CEPR - Centre for Economic Policy Research)

  • Riccardo Fiorito

    (UNISI - Università degli Studi di Siena = University of Siena)

Abstract

In this paper we suggest a new measure of discretionary government spending for OECD countries over the period 1980-2011. To identify the components of discretionary expenditure, we use the volatility and persistence properties of the expenditure series. Discretionary policy cannot be inertial and should be free from prior obligations. Commonly used measures of discretionary fiscal policy do not satisfy these two criteria. We find that discretionary expenditure accounts on average for about 30 per cent of total primary expenditure, suggesting that most government spending is driven by inertial and automatic components. These features help explain why government expenditure is generally not counter-cyclical even is advanced economies. Furthermore, the small share of discretionary expenditure over total expenditure significantly reduces the room of manoeuvre for counter-cyclical fiscal policy during recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabrizio Coricelli & Riccardo Fiorito, 2013. "Myths and Facts about Fiscal Discretion: A New Measure of Discretionary Expenditure," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00820820, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-00820820
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00820820
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    Cited by:

    1. Floriana, Cerniglia & Enzo, Dia & Andrew, Hughes Hallett, 2016. "Debt stability under entitlement spending," Working Papers 351, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised 07 Oct 2016.
    2. Riccardo Fiorito, 2014. "Extra Government Debt in the Great Recession: All Intentional?," Working Papers LuissLab 14110, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza, LUISS Guido Carli.
    3. Maria‐Eleni K. Agoraki & Stella Kardara & Tryphon Kollintzas & Georgios P. Kouretas, 2023. "Debt‐to‐GDP changes and the great recession: European Periphery versus European Core," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 3299-3331, July.
    4. Hughes Hallett, Andrew, 2019. "Fiscal governance after the financial crisis: A review," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 54-63.
    5. Floriana Cerniglia - Enzo Dia - Andrew Hughes Hallett, 2018. "Fiscal sustainability vs. fiscal stability: tax and debt under entitlement spending," CRANEC - Working Papers del Centro di Ricerche in Analisi economica e sviluppo economico internazionale crn1801, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Centro di Ricerche in Analisi economica e sviluppo economico internazionale (CRANEC).
    6. Floriana Cerniglia & Enzo Dia & Andrew Hughes Hallett, 2019. "Tax vs. Debt Management Under Entitlement Spending: a Multicountry Study," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 425-443, July.
    7. Zsoka Koczan, 2015. "Fiscal Deficit and Public Debt in the Western Balkans: 15 Years of Economic Transition," IMF Working Papers 2015/172, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Greg Hannsgen, 2013. "Heterodox Shocks," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_766, Levy Economics Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Discretion; government spending; volatility; dépense publique; volatilité;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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