We investigate how lump-sum equalization transfers affect expenditures and taxes in the municipalities of the largest German state North Rhine-Westphalia. In general, those general-purpose transfers cannot be treated as exogenous variables. Thus, for the identification of causal effects, two...

The transfer elasticity of income tax rates is an important parameter in public finance. Given the significant fiscal autonomy of Swiss municipalities, Switzerland is an ideal setting for examining behavioral responses to tax policy. Using a regression kink design, we find robust causal evidence...

Using panel data models, we analyze the flypaper effects-whether intergovernmental fiscal transfers or states' own income determine expenditure commitments - on ecological fiscal spending in India. The econometric results show that the unconditional fiscal transfers, rather than the states' own...