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Fiscal Councils: Rationale and Effectiveness

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  • Mr. Roel M. W. J. Beetsma
  • Mr. Xavier Debrun

Abstract

The paper discusses the effectiveness of independent fiscal institutions—or fiscal councils—in taming the deficit bias that emerged in the 1970s. After a review of the main theoretical arguments and recent trends about fiscal councils, we develop a stylized model showing how a fiscal council can effectively mitigate the deficit bias even though it has no direct lever on the conduct of fiscal policy. We show that the capacity of the fiscal council to improve the public’s understanding of the quality of fiscal policy contributes to better align voters and policymakers’ incentives and to tame the deficit bias affecting well-intended governments. After mapping the model’s key features into a broad set of criteria likely to contribute to the effectiveness of a fiscal council, we use the 2014 vintage of the IMF dataset on independent fiscal institutions to assess whether existing institutions have been built to work.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Roel M. W. J. Beetsma & Mr. Xavier Debrun, 2016. "Fiscal Councils: Rationale and Effectiveness," IMF Working Papers 2016/086, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2016/086
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    Cited by:

    1. Anders Gustafsson, 2019. "Busy doing nothing: why politicians implement inefficient policies," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 282-299, September.
    2. Adam Pigoń & Michał Ramsza, 2022. "A Comparison of German, Swiss, and Polish Fiscal Rules Using Monte Carlo Simulations," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 4, pages 17-41.
    3. Cristina Fasone, 2021. "Do Independent Fiscal Institutions Enhance Parliamentary Accountability in the Eurozone?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 135-144.
    4. Ludger Schuknecht & Christoph A. Schaltegger & Michele Salvi & Jan Schnellenbach & Thomas Lenk & Christian Bender & Mario Hesse & Gert G. Wagner & Stefan Korioth & Klaus Gründler & Philipp Heil & Nikl, 2021. "Debt Brake as a Bone of Contention: A Proven Instrument Even in Times of Crisis?," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 74(04), pages 03-30, April.
    5. Comăniciu Carmen, 2017. "The Fiscal Councils – Independent Fiscal Institutions for Ensuring Fiscal Discipline," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 531-536, December.
    6. Andersen, Torben M., 2019. "Intergenerational conflict and public sector size and structure: A rationale for debt limits?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 70-88.
    7. Nouha Bougharriou, 2017. "Understanding Public Debt from a Political Economy Perspective," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 3, pages 379-389, September.
    8. Bartłomiej Wiczewski, 2020. "Budget System in Poland: Challenges and Ongoing Reforms," European Economy - Economic Briefs 060, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    9. Capraru, Bogdan & Georgescu, George & Sprincean, Nicu, 2020. "An evaluation of IFIs impact on EU countries budget deficits," Working Papers of Romania Fiscal Council 201101, Romania Fiscal Council.
    10. Asatryan, Zareh & Debrun, Xavier & Heinemann, Friedrich & Horvath, Michal & Ódor, Ľudovít & Yeter, Mustafa, 2017. "Making the most of the European Fiscal Board," ZEW policy briefs 3/2017, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    11. Iyanatul Islam, 2018. "Fiscal Consolidation, Growth and Employment: International Evidence and Implications for India," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 61(1), pages 105-130, March.
    12. Martin Gorčák & Stanislav Šaroch, 2022. "Fiscal Councils In Eu Member States: Impact On Fiscal Discipline," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2022(5), pages 327-346.
    13. Sónia Araújo & Stéphanie Guichard, 2018. "Costa Rica: Restoring fiscal sustainability and setting the basis for a more growth-friendly and inclusive fiscal policy," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1484, OECD Publishing.
    14. Patrícia Martins & Leonida Correia, 2021. "Fiscal institutions: different classifications and their effectiveness," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(1), pages 159-190, March.
    15. Handler, Heinz, 2020. "Revamping Policy Governance in Austria: The EU’s impact 25 years on," MPRA Paper 110038, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Jankovics, László, 2021. "Költségvetési tanácsok az EU-ban - ölebek, vérebek vagy őrkutyák? [Fiscal councils in the EU: lapdogs, watchdogs or bloodhounds?]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(3), pages 251-281.
    17. Debrun, Xavier & Gerard, Marc & Harris, Jason, 2016. "Fiscal Watchdogs and Sound Fiscal Policy: Is the Barking Loud Enough to Tame Politicians?," MPRA Paper 96683, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2019.
    18. 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.
    19. Tóth G., Csaba, 2017. "A nemzeti költségvetési szabályok elterjedése és hatása Európában [The spread of national fiscal rules and their effect in Europe]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(11), pages 1119-1147.
    20. Căpraru, Bogdan & Georgescu, George & Sprincean, Nicu, 2022. "Do independent fiscal institutions cause better fiscal outcomes in the European Union?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(2).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WP; simple average; second period; Fiscal policy; deficit bias; independent fiscal institutions; incumbent government; government's prerogative; government maximization program; incompetent government; expected utility; profligate government; government's competence; Fiscal councils; Fiscal rules; Central bank autonomy; Africa; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus

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