The Political Economy Of Inter-Regional Fiscal Flows
Measurement, Determinants and Effects on Country Stability
Struggles over what a region receives, or should receive, from the budget of the
central government are common to many countries. Discussions often focus on the measures
of ‘net fiscal flows’ or ‘fiscal balances’ provided by the government or other
actors. This unique book shows just how these flows are computed then interpreted and
clarifies the often misunderstood economic and political motives that explain why some
regions receive more monies than others.
The Political Economy of Inter-Regional Fiscal Flows provides an overview of
the main methods currently being used to measure ‘fiscal flows’, highlighting the
advantages of the different approaches and interpreting their results.
The book reviews the political economy literature that analyses the
determinants of inter-regional ‘fiscal flows’. Particular attention is devoted to the
relationship between ‘fiscal flows’ and country stability, with methodological
contributions and country studies both focusing on this issue.
The contributing economists and political scientists provide a state-of-the-art study that
will prove to be of great use to academics and practitioners in public sector economics
and finance.
Edited by Núria Bosch, Marta Espasa and Albert Solé Ollé,
Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut d’Economia de Barcelona (IEB), Spain
Contents:
Preface
1. Inter-regional Fiscal Flows: Introduction to the Issues
Núria Bosch, Marta Espasa and Albert Solé Ollé
PART I: COUNTING MONIES: MEASUREMENT AND PRACTICE OF INTER-REGIONAL FISCAL
FLOWS
2. Inter-regional Fiscal Flows: Measurement Tools
Giuseppe C. Ruggeri
3. Inter-regional Fiscal Flows: Interpretation Issues
François Vaillancourt
Comment by Núria Bosch
Comment by Antoni Zabalza
4. Constitutional Reforms, Fiscal Decentralization and Regional Fiscal Flows in
Italy
Maria Flavia Ambrosanio, Massimo Bordignon and Floriana Cerniglia
5. Measurement and Practice of Fiscal Flows: The Case of Belgium
Paul Van Rompuy
6. Inter-regional Fiscal Flows: Canada
Giuseppe C. Ruggeri
Comment by François Vaillancourt
7. Inter-regional Fiscal Flows: Methodologies, Results and their Determinant
Factors for Spain
Marta Espasa and Núria Bosch
Comment by Guillem López-Casasnovas
Comment by Ramon Barberán
PART II: BEYOND THE DATA: WHY SOME REGIONS GET MORE MONEY
8. Federalism and Inter-regional Redistribution
Jonathan Rodden
Comment by Carles Boix
9. Decentralization by Politicians: Creation of Grants-financed Local Jurisdictions
Stuti Khemani
10. The Political Rationale of Regional Financing in Spain
Sandra León
Comment by Santiago Lago
11. The Determinants of Regional Transport Investment Across Europe
Achim Kemmerling and Andreas Stephan
12. The Determinants of the Regional Allocation of Infrastructure Investment in
Spain
Albert Solé Ollé
Comment by Germa Bel
PART III: IN OR OUT? REGIONAL REDISTRIBUTION AND THE STABILITY OF FEDERATIONS
13. Federalism, Regional Redistribution and Country Stability
Enrico Spolaore
Comment by Massimo Bordignon
14. The Costs and Benefits of Staying Together: The Catalan Case in Spain
Elisenda Paluzie
15. The Costs and Benefits of Constitutional Options for Québec and Canada
François Vaillancourt
16. Staying Together? Scotland and the Rest of the United Kingdom
David Bell
Index
432 pages, Hardcover
