Dissonance in Fiscal Policy: A Power Approach

Louis M. Imbeau ()
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Louis M. Imbeau: Université Laval

Chapter Chapter 10 in Do They Walk Like They Talk?, 2009, pp 167-184 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between speech and action in the budgetary process of provincial governments in Canada through a power approach. Using a three-dimensional approach to the concept of power, I ask the following question: Does the fiscal conservatism (liberalism) expressed by politicians in their policy speeches correspond to the fiscal discipline (indiscipline) they manifest when they improve (deteriorate) their budget balance? In other words, is there policy consonance or dissonance in the fiscal policy of the governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec, and under which conditions is dissonance useful for the general welfare? I proceed in two steps. First, I propose a conceptualization of the relationship between speech and action based on an analysis of power relationships in the policy process, which allows me to identify the conditions of a benevolent dissonance in fiscal policy. Second, I propose an empirical test of the model measuring fiscal discipline in action and fiscal conservatism in speeches and show that indeed provincial premiers often lack transparency but that this dissonance is very often beneficial for reaching the goal of properly financing public services.

Keywords: Power Relation; Fiscal Policy; Policy Process; Provincial Government; Budget Balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:stpchp:978-0-387-89672-4_10

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DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-89672-4_10

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