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Fiscal rules and the pro-cyclicality of public investment in the West African economic and monetary union

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  • Dessus, Sebastien
  • Diaz Sanchez, Jose Luis
  • Varoudakis, Aristomene

Abstract

Evidence from a large panel of low-income and lower middle-income countries over the period 1995-2012 suggests that, contrary to other countries, public investment in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) has been pro-cyclical. Public investment contracts more in"bad times"than it increases in"good times"and appears to have become pro-cyclical since the introduction of the fiscal convergence criteria in 1994. The pro-cyclicality of public expenditure and the high asymmetry of shocks that affect WAEMU countries justify exploring options for greater counter-cyclicality of rules-based fiscal frameworks and for risk-sharing.

Suggested Citation

  • Dessus, Sebastien & Diaz Sanchez, Jose Luis & Varoudakis, Aristomene, 2013. "Fiscal rules and the pro-cyclicality of public investment in the West African economic and monetary union," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6562, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6562
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juan Carlos Berganza, 2012. "Fiscal rules in Latin America: a survey," Occasional Papers 1208, Banco de España.
    2. Blanchard, Olivier & Giavazzi, Francesco, 2004. "Improving the SGP Through a Proper Accounting of Public Investment," CEPR Discussion Papers 4220, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean-Louis Combes & Alexandru Minea & Cezara Vinturis & Pegdéwendé Nestor Sawadogo, 2019. "Can fiscal rules curb income inequality? Evidence from developing countries," Working Papers halshs-02423126, HAL.
    2. Gladys Awinpoak Abindaw Nabieu & Godfred Alufar Bokpin & Achampong Kofi Osei & Patrick Opoku Asuming, 2021. "Fiscal rules, fiscal performance and economic growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(4), pages 607-619, December.
    3. Guerguil, Martine & Mandon, Pierre & Tapsoba, René, 2017. "Flexible fiscal rules and countercyclical fiscal policy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 189-220.
    4. Alabi, M. K. & Amirthalingam, K., 2020. "Fiscal Policy and the Business Cycle in the West African Monetary Zone," Working Papers 8, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin.
    5. Ryota Nakatani, 2021. "Fiscal Rules for Natural Disaster- and Climate Change-Prone Small States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-26, March.
    6. Combes, Jean-Louis & Minea, Alexandru & Sow, Moussé, 2017. "Is fiscal policy always counter- (pro-) cyclical? The role of public debt and fiscal rules," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 138-146.
    7. Cezara Vinturis, 2019. "A multi-speed fiscal Europe? Fiscal Rules and Fiscal Performance in the EU Former Communist Countries," Working Papers hal-03097483, HAL.
    8. Slawomir Franek & Marta Postula, 2020. "Does Eurozone Membership Strengthen the Significance of Fiscal Instruments?," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 21(1), pages 131-151, May.

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    Keywords

    Public Sector Expenditure Policy; Debt Markets; Economic Stabilization; Fiscal Adjustment; Access to Finance;
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