Download or read book Improving Fiscal Policy in the EU written by Lars Jonung and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recoge: 1. Introduction - 2. Forecasts biases in the present fiscal policy making process - 3. The case for independent fiscal forecasts - 4. Comparisons with other proposals for fiscal policy reform - 5. Summary.

Download or read book Fiscal Policy in the European Union written by J. Ferreiro and published by Springer. This book was released on 2008-11-27 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive analysis of national fiscal policies in the European Union and in the European Monetary Union. Adopting a critical perspective, the book offers a deep insight into the consequences of the current strategy of national fiscal policies on economic activity.

Download or read book Reforming Fiscal Governance in the European Union written by Michal Andrle and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2015-05-21 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Successive reforms have brought many positive elements to the European Union’s fiscal framework. But they have also increased its complexity. The current system involves an intricate set of fiscal constraints, which hampers effective monitoring and public communication. Compliance has also been weak. This note discusses medium-term reform options to simplify the framework and improve compliance. Based on model simulations and practical considerations, it argues for moving to a two-pillar approach, with a single fiscal anchor (public debt-to-GDP) and a single operational target (an expenditure growth rule, possibly with an explicit debt correction mechanism) linked to the anchor.

Download or read book Stability and Growth in Europe written by Antonio Fatás and published by Centre for Economic Policy Research. This book was released on 2003 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fiscal policy framework of the EMU is in a states of crisis. Since the start of EMU, fiscal conditions in some member states have slipped considerably beyond the limits set by the Maastricht Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact. It is clear that the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact has failed to preclude excessive deficits. There is no shortage of proposals to reform the current fiscal framework in this crisis situation. They range from calls for softening their implementation, and to proposals for closer coordination of national fiscal policies. None of these proposals offers a convincing solution to the problem at the heart of the current crisis: how to balance the need for effective long-run fiscal stability in EMU with the need for short-run flexibility of fiscal policy in the member states. After a detailed analysis of the virtues and defects of the current fiscal framework, this report presents a proposal for reform that addresses this issue. The authors argue that EMU should move away from rigid fiscal rules for annual deficits towards a more judgmental process of monitoring the sustainability of fiscal policies. This approach is guided by three principles: independence, transparency, and legitimacy. Together wit the ability to assess the fiscal situation and outlook of each euro-area member state, they are the keys to designing a framework that provides enough flexibility and, at the same time, can build the required credibility and political support. The authors propose the creation of a Sustainability Council for the EMU, and independent body with the sole statutory task of safeguarding the sustainability of public finances in the euro area. The Sustainability Council regularly and openly reports to the public and the European Parliament its assessment of the member states' fiscal policies, taking into account past performance, current perspectives and the future course of fiscal policies. Its mandate is the counterpart of the ECB's principal task of maintaining price stability. However, the Sustainability Council has no operative role in fiscal policy; it relies solely on the pressure of informed public opinion to discipline national governments. The use of the instruments of fiscal policy is entirely left to the national governments, and the Sustainability Council can only be conceived as a judge of national public finances.

Download or read book Fiscal Policy Making in the European Union written by Martin Larch and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2009-12-16 with total page 375 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines key aspects of the measurement of fiscal policy making in the EU fiscal surveillance framework, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of current assessment practice. Based on the proceedings of a workshop organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General Economic and Financial Affairs, the book’s contributions from leading experts will be of particular value to individuals and institutions involved in the fields of national and international economics and finance. Key Features: chapters are arranged within three main sections: Long-term sustainability; Measurement of the underlying budgetary position and discretionary fiscal policy; Reliability of fiscal indicators edited by Martin Larch and João Nogueira Martins expert contributors include António Afonso, Fabrizio Balassone, Fernando Ballabriga, Roy Barrell, Peter Brandner, Peter Claeys, Leopold Diebalek, Per Eckefeldt, Jonas Fischer, Daniele Franco, Jagadeesh Gokhale, Ian Hurst, Walpurga Köhler-Töglhofer, György Kopits, Martin Larch, Carlos Martinez-Mongay, James Mitchell, João Nogueira Martins, Jan in ’t Veld, Stefania Zotteri text amply supported by charts and tables. bibliography and Index

Download or read book Reforming the EU Fiscal Framework written by Mr. Nathaniel G Arnold and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2022-09-05 with total page 49 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The EU’s fiscal framework needs reform. While existing fiscal rules have had some impact in constraining deficits, they did not prevent deficits and debt ratios that have threatened the stability of the monetary union in the past and that continue to create vulnerabilities today. The framework also has a poor track record at managing trade-offs between containing fiscal risks and stabilizing output. Finally, the framework does not provide sufficient tools for EU-wide stabilization. This was most visible during the decade following the euro area sovereign debt crisis, when structurally low real interest rates stretched the policy tools of the European Central Bank (ECB), leading to a persistent undershooting of its inflation target. This paper proposes a new framework based on risk-based EU-level fiscal rules, strengthened national institutions, and a central fiscal capacity. First, risk-based EU-level fiscal rules would link the speed and ambition of fiscal consolidation to the level and horizon of fiscal risks, as identified by debt sustainability analysis (DSA) using a common methodology developed by a new and independent European Fiscal Council (EFC). The 3 percent deficit and 60 percent debt reference values would remain. Second, all member countries would be required to enact medium-term fiscal frameworks consistent with the EU-level rules—that is, to ensure convergence over the medium-term to an overall fiscal balance anchor by setting expenditure ceilings. Independent national fiscal councils (NFCs) would have a much stronger role to strengthen checks and balances at the national level (including undertaking or endorsing macroeconomic projections and performing DSAs to assess fiscal risks). The European Commission (EC) would continue to play its key surveil¬lance role as articulated in the Maastricht Treaty and the EFC would be the center of a peer network of fiscal councils. Third, building on the recent experience with the NextGenerationEU (NGEU), an EU fiscal capacity (FCEU) would improve euro area macroeconomic stabilization and allow the provision of common EU public goods—a task that has become more urgent given the green transition and common security concerns. Central to the proposal is a mutually reinforcing relationship between EU rules and national-level imple¬mentation. Strengthening implementation requires both better national ownership of the rules and their application and greater congruence of national-level frameworks with EU-level rules. The former can only be achieved by rules that convincingly balance the needs of members with the avoidance of negative externali¬ties across members. This argues for a risk-based approach—the first pillar of our proposal. The latter requires a stronger role for significantly upgraded national level frameworks—the second pillar of our proposal.

Download or read book Designing a European Fiscal Union written by Mr.Carlo Cottarelli and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2014-12-05 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does the European Union need closer fiscal integration, and in particular a stronger fiscal centre, to become more resilient to economic shocks? This book looks at the experience of 13 federal states to help inform the heated debate on this issue. It analyses in detail their practices in devolving responsibilities from the subnational to the central level, compares them to those of the European Union, and draws lessons for a possible future fiscal union in Europe. More specifically, this book tries to answer three sets of questions: What is the role of centralized fiscal policies in federations, and hence the size, features and functions of the central budget? What institutional arrangements are used to coordinate fiscal policy between the federal and subnational levels? What are the links between federal and subnational debt, and how have subnational financing crises been handled, when they occurred? These policy questions are critical in many federations, and central to the current discussions about future paths for the European Union. This book brings to the table new, practical insights through a systematic and comprehensive comparison of the EU fiscal framework with that of federal states. It also departs from the decentralization perspective that has been prominent in the literature by focusing on the role of the centre (which responsibilities are centralized at the federal level and how they are handled, rather than which functions belong to the local level). Such an approach is particularly relevant for the European Union, where a fiscal union would imply granting new powers to the centre.

Download or read book Improving fiscal policy in the EU written by Lars Jonung and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Fiscal Performance Institutional Design and Decentralization in European Union Countries written by Mr.Julio Escolano and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2012-02-01 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper analyzes the impact of decentralization on overall fiscal performance in the European Union, taking into account fiscal institutional arrangements. We find that spending decentralization has been associated with sizably better fiscal performance, especially when transfer dependency of subnational governments is low. However, subnational fiscal rules do not seem to be associated with better performance.

Download or read book Playing by the Rules written by Luc Eyraud and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2015-03-24 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The paper contributes to the discussions on fiscal governance in Europe. It takes stock of recent reforms, identifies areas for further progress, and discusses a menu of policy options for the medium-term. The issues covered include: (i) the growing complexity of the European framework and ways to simplify it; (ii) the difficulties to measure and implement structural stance indicators; (iii) the challenge of reconciling fiscal sustainability and growth; (iv) the need to enhance coordination in the area of monitoring; and (v) the obstacles to compliance and proposals to strengthen enforcement.

Download or read book Policy Instruments for Sound Fiscal Policies written by J. Ayuso-i-Casals and published by Springer. This book was released on 2009-08-14 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume contributes to empirical research on the role of national fiscal rules and institutions in shaping fiscal policies. It provides original, policy-oriented analysis on a number of questions and gives illuminating conclusions about the devices which promote sound and sustainable policy. Contributors are leading experts.

Download or read book Fiscal Federalism in the European Union and Its Countries written by Clément Vaneecloo and published by Peter Lang. This book was released on 2006 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book tackles a key issue for the European Union: Fiscal Federalism. It evaluates the applicability of this theoretical perspective for the EU. Conversely, it pinpoints ways in which the diversity of existing fiscal settings and organisations, both at national and European levels, can throw light on the theory. The study analyses two of the most important European policies: Cohesion Policy and the Stability and Growth Pact. It compares the episode of German Unification to the 2004 European Enlargement. It pioneers a cross-country analysis of the various national fiscal settings. Finally, it highlights the close links between the dynamics of decision-making related to the main budgetary choices and the integration process. The questions raised are crucial in the current context of economic and institutional uncertainty: How should we apprehend the Cohesion Policy, the main expression of European solidarity? How can the coordination of national fiscal policies be improved? How are European countries and their regions organised in fiscal and budgetary terms? What lessons can the EU draw from its own fiscal past and from that of its Member States? Over and above the originality of the answers provided by the authors, the book suggests that it would be difficult to take the integration process further without first clarifying what Europe can, should or wants to do.

Download or read book Second Generation Fiscal Rules written by Luc Eyraud and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2018-04-13 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fiscal rule frameworks have evolved significantly in response to the global financial crisis. Many countries have reformed their fiscal rules or introduced new ones with a view to enhancing the credibility of fiscal policy and providing a medium-term anchor. Enforcement and monitoring mechanisms have also been upgraded. However, these innovations have made the systems of rules more complicated to operate, while compliance has not improved. The SDN takes stock of past experiences, reviews recent reforms, and presents new research on the effectiveness of rules. It also proposes guiding principles for future reforms to strike a better balance between simplicity, flexibility, and enforceability. Read the blog

Download or read book Improving Fiscal Transparency to Raise Government Efficiency and Reduce Corruption Vulnerabilities in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe written by Mr.Bernardin Akitoby and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2020-05-11 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This departmental paper investigates how countries in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) can improve fiscal transparency, thereby raising government efficiency and reducing corruption vulnerabilities.

Download or read book The Transition to EMU in the Maastricht Treaty written by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth written by Cheryl Williamson Gray and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2007 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Worldwide experience highlights public finance policies that promote economic growth while meeting the need for fundamental public goods. Macroeconomic stability is essential, as large budget deficits retard growth, followed by moderate levels of public spending - around one-third of GDP or less - especially when governance and public administration are weak; that in turn requires efficiency, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, health, education, and social protection; finally, lower income and payroll tax rates can spur investment and employment. The Eastern European and Central Asia countries pioneered flat income taxes without generally suffering revenue losses as a result, but they have not addressed the problem of high payroll taxes and still face many hurdles in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending and revenue generation.

Download or read book Macroeconomic Policies for EU Accession written by Erdem Basci and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2007-01-01 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What macroeconomic requirements must Turkey meet in its quest to accede to the European Union? This book, with its distinguished contributors - well-known economists and policymakers - examines and analyses these macroeconomic challenges confronting Turkey. Although the focus is on the specific situation of Turkey, the lessons are informative for other candidate countries and the findings directly relevant to the process of European integration. The book is divided into four parts: fiscal policies and sustainability of public finances, monetary policy challenges, preconditions for euro adoption, sustainable regimes of capital movements. Each topic is studied in two consecutive papers concentrating first on the challenges faced by the countries of the EU, and then by Turkey. Several papers review the experiences from the previous round of EU accession and the implications of these for Turkey. Macroeconomic Policies for EU Accession will appeal to policymakers, bureaucrats and academics interested in the macroeconomic problems of EU accession and European integration.