Expenditure Reform in Industrialised Countries: A Case-Study Approach

This study examines reforms of public expenditure in industrialised countries over the past two decades. We distinguish ambitious and timid reformers and analyse in detail reform experiences in eight case studies of ambitious reform episodes. We find that ambitious reform countries reduce spending o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fiscal studies 2007-09, Vol.28 (3), p.293-342
Main Authors: Hauptmeier, Sebastian, Heipertz, Martin, Schuknecht, Ludger
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Consumption
Economic growth
Economic indicators
Economic policy
Economic reform
Employment
European Commission
Expenditures
GDP
Government reform
Government spending
Gross Domestic Product
Industrialized nations
Investment subsidies
Labor market
Macroeconomics
Public debt
Public expenditure
Ratios
Reforms
Studies
Subsidies
Tax rates
Tax reform
Trends
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Summary:This study examines reforms of public expenditure in industrialised countries over the past two decades. We distinguish ambitious and timid reformers and analyse in detail reform experiences in eight case studies of ambitious reform episodes. We find that ambitious reform countries reduce spending on transfers, subsidies and public consumption. Such expenditure retrenchment is also typically part of a comprehensive reform package that includes improvements in fiscal institutions as well as structural and other macroeconomic reforms. The study finds that ambitious expenditure retrenchment and reform coincides with large improvements in fiscal and economic growth indicators.
ISSN:0143-5671
1475-5890
DOI:10.1111/j.1475-5890.2007.00058.x