Summary for non-specialistsA bias towards running deficits is an entrenched feature of fiscal policy making in most developed economies.Our paper examines whether this tendency is in any way associated with the personal distribution of income of a country. It takes inspiration from theoretical...

Summary for non-specialistsThis paper examines the influence of governments' discretionary measures on tax revenues and tax elasticity in the European Union during the run-up to the 2008/2009 global financial crisis which was characterised by large swings in tax revenues.Using data collected in...

The Dutch housing market has been shaped by highly interventionist public policies spanning over several decades. Direct and indirect government intervention in the housing market through spatial planning and land policy, regulation and supervision of housing associations, rent policy and...

Fiscal indicators are the backbone of effective fiscal policy-making, including the coordination and surveillance of budgetary policy at the EU level. The quality and success of the EU surveillance framework, in particular the timeliness and appropriateness of any policy recommendation or...

Based on the conceptual framework developed by the European Commission for linking the quality of public finances and economic growth, this study examines empirically the key channels through which fiscal policy impacts economic growth in the Mediterranean partner countries of the EU. The...

This paper proposes to highlight the main features and key success factors of the design, conduct and implementation of spending reviews, based on the experiences of EU Member States. Public expenditure accounts for almost half of the annual wealth created in the EU (49.0% of GDP in 2013). A...

Real-time estimates of the potential output are essential in the EU fiscal surveillance framework. They are used for the calculation of the cyclically-adjusted budget balance, one of the main indicators in the assessment of the fiscal performance of EU Member States. Our paper examines whether...

This paper analyses the euro as external anchor in the Western Balkans and their process of fiscal consolidation in the context of future EU accession.