We examine whether US and German state governments pursue sustainable fiscal policies taking into account fiscal transfers. Using panel data techniques we investigate whether the debt-to-GDP ratio had a positive influence on the primary surplus (Bohn-model). We show that including/excluding...

Scholars have been active in investigating causes and consequences of austerity policies. We examine how economists use the term “austerity” in scientific studies and measure austerity in empirical analyses. The sample includes around 3,500 journal articles published in the top 400 journals...

In 2009 a new law on German debt brakes was passed: state governments are not allowed to run structural deficits after 2020. Consolidation strategies initiated today influence if a state can comply with the debt brake in 2020. We describe to what extent government ideology predicts if state...

Die Coronakrise verlangt gegenwärtig expansive Fiskalpolitik. Diese Strategie ist unbestritten. Deutschland verfügt über die nötigen Spielräume für diese expansive Fiskalpolitik – nicht zuletzt deshalb, weil Fiskalregeln wie die deutsche Schuldenbremse den Grundstein für eine...

We examine whether US and German state governments pursue sustainable fiscal policies taking into account fiscal transfers. Using panel data techniques we investigate whether the debt-to-GDP ratio had a positive influence on the primary surplus (Bohn-model). We show that including/excluding...

Seit 1970 hat die Staatsverschuldung in Deutschland dramatisch zugenommen. Weder die Vorkehrungen zur Begrenzung der Staatsverschuldung im Grundgesetz noch der Europäische Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt haben den Anstieg der Verschuldung eindämmen können. Derzeit führt der konjunkturelle...

The view is widespread that there are just two options for the future of the Eurozone - either it is complemented by a fiscal union, or it will fall apart. In this paper, we discuss five possible elements of a fiscal union, of which three are in the centre of the current debate on fiscal union...