Committed to Coordination? Intergovernmental Councils as a Federal Safeguard

In this research note, I suggest that the design of intergovernmental councils (IGC) accounts for the extent to which they are able to prevent the federal government from encroaching on subnational jurisdictions. IGC operate in areas of interdependence where the federal government faces incentives to restore to hierarchical coordination. The effect of the intergovernmental safeguard is measured by the absence or presence of federal encroachment. Two concepts are useful to explain it: the extent to which governments are committed to coordination and the dominance of the federal government of vertical IGC. I argue that different combinations of the two variables help to understand the safeguarding effect of intergovernmental councils. In particular, I contend that in any configuration in which federal dominance is present the federal government can encroach on subnational jurisdictions. The research note shows how the concept of federal safeguards can be applied empirically.     

Adjustments in municipal fiscal crises. Are they different according to the gender of the mayor?

The literature on gender has attempted to explain the differences between the public outcome depending on whether the ruler is male or female, on the basis that men and women have different preferences. This scientific research has not yet examined issues related to fiscal crises, and our research aims to fill this gap. In a context of generalised economic crisis, our research examines if the gender of the mayor affected the fiscal adjustment policies carried out by municipalities with fiscal deficits in the Spanish region of Galicia. Our paper suggests that although gender of the mayor does not seem to have affected the level of adjustment in total current expenditure, it does seem to have influenced the way in which social and non-social spending were adjusted. Our study also highlights that female mayors are associated with lower levels of tax revenues and this could slow the adjustment processes of fiscal imbalances.     

Reversing Course: Fiscal Policy and Economic Interdependence

In response to the 2008 financial crisis, countries throughout the developed world widely embraced fiscal stimulus policies. But about one year later, with their economies still weak, a majority of these countries reversed course and adopted austerity measures, despite having the ability to maintain fiscal expansions. With little variation in domestic interests, institutions, or political ideologies over this short time period, theories of budgetary politics struggle to explain this policy shift. This shortcoming may be the result of the literature generally ignoring the international effects of fiscal policy. I argue that policymakers strategically consider their trade partners’ likely fiscal policies before setting domestic fiscal policy. If incumbents expect their major trade partners to enact fiscal expansions, they are more likely to pass expansionary policies of their own. But when incumbents expect their counterparts to enact contractionary policies, they are less likely to fund expansionary policies, as these policies may boost foreign economies with suppressed effects at home. I test this argument using spatial econometrics and a data set of OECD countries from 1998 to 2015. The evidence suggests that shifting expectations of fiscal policies abroad explains much of the move from stimulus to austerity over the short time span.     

供给侧改革背景下财政社会保障支出对就业影响的非对称效应 —— 基于面板门限回归模型的实证分析

国内经济增长速度下降以及人口红利逐步消减,调动生产要素的积极性是供给侧改革的核心[1],劳动是生产要素的一部分,因此合理发挥社会保障对就业的促进作用至关重要。以中国31个省1998-2014年的面板数据为样本,对东、中、西部地区进行分组回归,并以人均GDP为门槛变量,运用双重门槛模型,实证研究了财政社会保障支出对就业的非对称效应:经济发展水平越高,正向促进作用越明显。     

关于利用财政政策促进贵州地方金融发展的思考

在经济欠发达的贵州这类省份,有效运用财政政策能够对当地金融发展起到导向和促进作用,最终实现财政政策与金融的良性互动,为地方经济发展增添活力。     

消除体制性梗阻加大新农村建设财政资金投入力度

近年来我国财政支农投入不断下降,对“三农”方面的资金投入严重不足,难以顺利推进新农村建设。其主要原因是现行财税体制仍然没有理顺,财政资金投入新农村建设的渠道存在体制性梗阻。解决问题的根本出路在于加快财税体制改革,合理划分各级政府的事权和财权,实行等级分税制;规范转移支付制度;树立公共财政理念,加大财政支农资金投入。但这是一个长期的渐进过程,近期可选择的政策是逐步降低涉农项目配套资金比例;改善财政涉农资金管理体制,整合分散资金,提高资金使用效率。     

地方政府计划生育的标准财政支出新测算方法研究

人均支出标准的新的计划生育标准财政支出测算模型以各地区总人口数为基数,结合各地区的少数民族人口比例和农村人口比例来构建,力求客观地反映各个地区计划生育财政支出需求,为地方政府计划生育标准财政支出和中央政府对地方政府在计划生育工作上的转移支付提供科学的依据.     

政府间公共服务职责划分及其财政管理体制支持问题研究

本文简要阐述了财政管理体制与政府公共服务职责的关系,介绍了我国财政管理体制与政府公共服务职责的现状和问题,分析了其原因,并从基本公共服务范围和标准、财政转移制度、法制建设等方面,提出了完善财政管理体制,保障各级政府履行公共服务职责实现的政策建议。     

论城市群治理体系现代化——基于我国三大城市群的比较

城市群发展提出了城市群治理议题。从我国三大城市群发展来看,由府际协作、市场机制和社会组织参与构成的城市群治理机制促进了城市群发展,但缺乏现代化治理体系使城市群发展面临着治理资源短缺、流程不畅、结构失衡等导致的治理效能低下困局。实现城市群治理体系现代化是推进城市群治理创新的必然要求。要夯实城市群府际协作机制,激发城市群治理中市场和社会的活力,实现府际协作、市场机制和社会组织参与的联动治理。     

信托受益权转让融资风险之法律分析

在中国近年金融快速发展的过程中,银行与其他金融机构合作,创造出一系列的金融创新手段与创新产品。利用信托受益权转让进行融资,满足了企业的融资需求与消费者的投资需求,同时给金融监管带来了新的挑战和压力。如何在金融创新中把握金融监管的方向与力度,使金融监管服务于金融创新,并在促进金融创新的同时,控制创新所带来的风险,是值得关注的一个问题。从信托受益权转让这一融资模式出发,以小见大,或能为金融监管与金融创新的权衡提供借鉴。