This article investigates the ideational foundations of the European Union fiscal governance by perusing economic theories and models and determining which would recommend the provisions we observe. Sustainability apart, these rules are designed to prevent negative cross-country externalities arising from expansionary fiscal policies adopted by authorities with short-term incentives to boost output at the expense of inflation. I argue that this reasoning is based on standard macroeconomic theories while, in addition to misreading these rules, Blyth’s claims that they have been influenced by theories based on rational expectations, including even the Ricardian equivalence proposition, are unconvincing. These theoretical variants suggest a diminished effectiveness of expansionary fiscal policies and would recommend looser oversight. Supporting these rules means that one must doubt expansionary fiscal consolidation – the key idea behind austerity. I conclude highlighting the uncertainties and unavoidable arbitrariness of these rather imperfect commitment devices to maintain sustainable public finances.

In search of the ideational foundations of EU fiscal governance: standard ideas, imperfect rules / F. Franchino. - In: REVUE D'INTÉGRATION EUROPÉENNE = JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION. - ISSN 0703-6337. - 42:2(2020), pp. 179-194. [10.1080/07036337.2019.1657858]

In search of the ideational foundations of EU fiscal governance: standard ideas, imperfect rules

F. Franchino
Primo
2020

Abstract

This article investigates the ideational foundations of the European Union fiscal governance by perusing economic theories and models and determining which would recommend the provisions we observe. Sustainability apart, these rules are designed to prevent negative cross-country externalities arising from expansionary fiscal policies adopted by authorities with short-term incentives to boost output at the expense of inflation. I argue that this reasoning is based on standard macroeconomic theories while, in addition to misreading these rules, Blyth’s claims that they have been influenced by theories based on rational expectations, including even the Ricardian equivalence proposition, are unconvincing. These theoretical variants suggest a diminished effectiveness of expansionary fiscal policies and would recommend looser oversight. Supporting these rules means that one must doubt expansionary fiscal consolidation – the key idea behind austerity. I conclude highlighting the uncertainties and unavoidable arbitrariness of these rather imperfect commitment devices to maintain sustainable public finances.
Fiscal governance, economic ideas, macroeconomic theories, European Union, austerity
Settore SPS/04 - Scienza Politica
2020
4-set-2019
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/674169
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