Expenditure reform in industralised countries: a case study approach

Sebastian Hauptmeier, Martin Heipertz and Ludger Schuknecht ()

No 06-50, ZEW Discussion Papers from ZEW - Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung / Center for European Economic Research

Abstract: 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 while largely sparing education spending. 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. --

Keywords: public expenditure; expenditure reform; economic growth; deficit; debt; employment; case studies; fiscal institutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O57 H6 H5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-pbe
Date: 2006
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Related works:
Working Paper: Expenditure reform in industrialised countries - a case study approach (2006)
Journal Article: Expenditure Reform in Industrialised Countries: A Case-Study Approach* (2007)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:zewdip:5443

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