This dissertation provides an empirical test of the effects of fiscal decentralization and horizontal fiscal equalization on economic growth and examines the potential trade-off between horizontal fiscal equalization and economic growth in both China and India. Chapter II examines the effects of both fiscal decentralization and horizontal fiscal equalization on economic growth in China, particularly the effect of the Tax Sharing System reform enacted in 1994. Compared with previous studies, using more complete data providing better measures and more econometrically sophisticated instrumental variable procedures, we find that there is no substantial evidence of a trade-off between horizontal fiscal equalization and growth. The 1994 Tax Sharing System reform has positively contributed to both economic growth and horizontal fiscal equalization. In addition, we find that fiscal decentralization (FD) has a non-linear effect on growth. For values of FD less than 21, fiscal decentralization has a negative effect on growth, but for values greater than 21, fiscal decentralization has a positive effect on growth. Chapter III examines the effects of both fiscal decentralization and horizontal fiscal equalization on economic growth in India, particularly the effects of the 1991 economic reforms. Using state-wide data covering the period from 1980 through 2005, we find that fiscal decentralization has a negative effect on economic growth initially but that, beyond a certain value of fiscal decentralization, the effect on growth becomes positive. However, further decentralization could have a negative effect on horizontal fiscal equalization. These results are robust. In the meanwhile, there is no evidence of a trade-off between horizontal fiscal equalization and economic growth; instead, there is evidence of a positive effect of economic growth on equalization. In addition, the 1991 economic reform has contributed to economic growth. A comparative study of China and India has shown that the degree of fiscal decentralization in both countries is far from the point where its effect on economic growth becomes positive. Despite the dangers of widening disparities in terms of interregional fiscal resource distribution from further decentralization, no substantial evidence shows a trade-off between horizontal fiscal equalization and growth in either country. An in-depth and more thorough going fiscal decentralization with greater emphasis on equalization of fiscal disparities are required in order to effect sustainable economic growth as well as social harmony in these two Asian countries.

The paper describes the content of the project “Tax-/Transfer-Reform and Fiscal Responsibility: Pathways to a Sustainable Fiscal Policy in Georgia”, which is supported for the period Fall 2005 to Spring 2008 by the VolkswagenStiftung. Within the project a knowledgetransfer is organized, concentrating on state theory, tax and transfer reform, revenue sharing as well as fiscal equalization. A short overview on the current situation in Georgia is presented. Then the main project components – tax reform, tax revenue estimation and microsimulation – are briefly discussed.

Under the influence of orientation towards European integration, Georgia has introduced a variety of new laws with the apparent aim to decentralize legislative and executive powers. This paper shows that the Georgian efforts of decentralization remain superficial, mainly because they are not backed by additional fiscal competences at the municipality level. Following an initial description of the pre-reform situation as of 2006 and based upon a detailed account of the structural changes since 2007, the author gives insight into the conflicts which arise from the lack of institutional congruency. Neither the extraordinary status of the capital Tbilisi nor the seeming autonomy of the Rebublic of Adjara are likely to sway the renegade territories of Abchasia and Ossetia towards a reintegration under Georgian centralized rule as it continues to exist today. Likewise, the success of the proposed and discussed fiscal equalization scheme depends on whether the President and his ruling party are willing to delegate powers to the subodinate jurisdictions.

This paper discusses the problems regarding the decentralisation of a formerly communist country. In Georgia, the first steps towards decentralisation failed, since the transition process led to a power vacuum that escalated in bloody conflicts and secessionist movements. The status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is still unclear and the intra-state tensions remain unsolved. This may be one of the reasons why the most recent attempts of decentralisation are rather hesitant. It is far from clear whether decentralisation in response to regional tensions would increase instability or political stability. We identify the limited autonomy at the local and regional levels as a major obstacle and challenge for the further reform process.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação.pdf: 1364852 bytes, checksum: 8a8d0cb3da03120099b94df341f00c39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-10 / With decentralization w h ich has chara cterized the brazilian federation in the last fe w decades, the municipalities received more assignments and responsibilities, implementing public policies and providing basic services for population. However, since the own municipal revenues are capable of fund ing only partially these activities, it bec omes necessary a high volume of grants that flow s from central levels to sub national levels of government. Furthermore , Brazil is a country with a vast and heterogeneous territory, where municipalities with different self financing capability, as well as d ifferent demands from population, coexist in the same federalist system. In light of this, it becomes fundamental studying the grants distribution, verifying if the municipalities that need more financial support have been the effectively benefited. This p rocess of reducing the horizontal disparities that emerge from different tax bases and local demands is called fiscal equalization. The fiscal equalization allows residents in different municipalities receiving the same public service level given the tax c harge assumed by them (net fiscal benefit), it means, the equalization promotes the equity in the public services provision, as well as avoids the allocational inefficiency derived from migrations encouraged by fiscal benefits. To create the fiscal equaliz ation , grants must benefit those municipalities with less er self financing capability and greater fiscal needs associated with costs and demands for public services. In this sense, this study aims to assess the effect of intergovernmental transfers in the municipalities’ fiscal equalization, considering the main proxies of fisca l capacity – potential of creating own revenue – and fiscal need – volume of resources demanded in the municipality due region’s and population’s characteristics. The analysis is rea lized to each transfer’s group, ranging from those with an essentially redistributive finality, to those predominantly devolutive , as the 'cota - parte de ICMS'. The results show that some transfers, as FPM, contribute little to fiscal equalization, in spite of the redistributive nature implicit in this grant, as well as some conditional transfers, as FUNDEB, although they don’t aim correct the horizontal disparities in the capability of local government realizing their function s , can imply a positive effect to fiscal equalization in the federation’s local level. Another important result emerge d from analysis is the Bolsa - família transfer’s effect in the equali zation, because this transfer minimize the distortions realized by all other grants distributed to mu nicipalities. The Bolsa - família, although it’s not a intergovernmental transfer, was included in the analysis since it’s represents an expressive amount of resources, competes for resources with others grants and has a potential effect similar to the other intergovernmental transfers in the scope of fiscal equalization, given that releases resources in the local budget that, otherwise, could be committed with the local social policy. Another relevant result is the observation that voluntary transfers affect less the equalization, it means, they don’t contribute to this aim nor prejudice the horizontal disparities reduction, being relatively neutral or less intervenient in relation demands and fiscal capacity of local governments, probably because they don’t follow criteria , neither economics, as the ICMS, nor redistributive, as FPM. Instead, these transfers follow political criteria, as indicated by recent political science literature. / Com a descentralização que caracterizou a federação brasileira nas últimas décadas, os municípios receberam maiores atribuições e responsabilidades, implementando políticas públicas e provendo serviços básicos à população. Contudo, uma vez que as receitas próprias municipais são capazes de custear apenas parcialmente estas atividades, torna-se necessário um volume elevado de transferências que fluem dos níveis centrais aos municípios. Além do mais, o Brasil é um país de território vasto e heterogêneo, em que municípios com distintas capacidades de autofinanciamento, bem como diferentes demandas por serviços públicos, convivem no mesmo regime federativo. Diante deste quadro, torna-se fundamental estudar a distribuição dos recursos das transferências, verificando se os municípios que mais necessitam de suporte financeiro têm sido os efetivamente beneficiados. À este processo de reduzir as disparidades horizontais provenientes de diferenças nas bases tributárias e demandas locais dá-se o nome de equalização fiscal. A equalização fiscal permite que municípes de diferentes jurisdições recebam o mesmo nível de serviços públicos para dada carga tributária assumida por eles (net fiscal benefit), ou seja, a equalização promove a equidade na provisão dos serviços públicos, além de evitar a criação de ineficiência alocativa derivada de migrações motivadas por benefícios fiscais. Para criar a equalização fiscal as transferências devem beneficiar aqueles municípios com menor capacidade de autofinanciamento e maiores necessidades fiscais atreladas à custos e demandas pelos serviços públicos. Neste sentido, este trabalho busca avaliar o efeito das transferências intergovernamentais na equalização fiscal dos municípios, considerando as principais proxies de capacidade fiscal – potencial de geração de receita própria – e necessidade fiscal – volume de recursos demandados em virtude das características da região e da população do município. A análise é realizada para cada grupo de transferências, desde aquelas com finalidade essencialmente redistributiva como o FPM até aquelas predominantemente devolutivas, como a cota-parte de ICMS. Os resultados mostram que algumas transferências como o FPM contribuem pouco para a equalização fiscal, apesar do objetivo de natureza redistributiva implícito neste repasse, assim como algumas transferências condicionais, como o FUNDEB, apesar de não almejarem especificamente corrigir as disparidades horizontais na capacidade dos municípios realizarem suas funções, podem significar um efeito positivo para a equalização fiscal no nível municipal da federação. Outro resultado importante que desponta na análise é o efeito da transferência do Bolsa-família na equalização, pois esta transferência consegue atenuar as distorções realizadas pelas demais transferências distribuídas aos municípios. O Bolsa-família, apesar de não ser uma transferência intergovernamental, foi incorporada na análise por representar um expressivo volume de recursos, por concorrer com recursos de outras transferências e ainda ter efeito potencial semelhante ao das demais transferências intergovernamentais no âmbito da equalização fiscal, uma vez que libera recursos no orçamento do governo local que, do contrário, poderiam estar comprometidos com a política local de assistência social. Outro resultado é a observação de que as transferências voluntárias afetam menos a equalização, ou seja, não contribuem para a consecução deste objetivo nem prejudicam a redução das disparidades horizontais, sendo relativamente neutras ou menos intervenientes em relação às demandas e capacidade de arrecadação dos municípios, provavelmente por não seguirem critérios, nem econômicos, como o ICMS, nem redistributivos, como o FPM, e sim critérios políticos, como apontado pela literatura de ciência política.

Landeszuweisungen stellen eine zentrale Einnahmenquelle der kommunalen Ebene dar und sind für deren Aufgabenerfüllung unverzichtbar. Einen erheblichen Teil dieser Mittel erhalten die Kommunen dabei über den kommunalen Finanzausgleich. Dieser trägt in hohem Maße zu einer Verstetigung der kommunalen Einnahmenbasis bei, indem der Großteil der Finanzmittel pauschal an die Kommunen weitergereicht wird, und unterstützt darüber hinaus einen (anteiligen) Abbau der Finanzkraftunterschiede zwischen den Kommunen. Eine weitere Ergänzung der kommunalen Einnahmenseite bilden Fördermittelprogramme der Länder. Diesen liegt im Normalfall ein bestimmter Förderzweck zugrunde, über den die Landesebene indirekt Einfluss auf die kommunale Ausgabenpolitik ausüben kann (sog. Politik der Goldenen Zügel). Anders als im in hohem Maße regelgebundenen kommunalen Finanzausgleichssystem sind diese Mittel in vielen Fällen nur auf Antrag verfügbar und bedürfen darüber hinaus üblicherweise eines Eigenfinanzierungsanteils durch die Kommunen. Hieraus erwachsen Risiken der Fehlallokation kommunaler Ausgaben und einer Benachteiligung von Kommunen, die Eigenanteile nicht aufbringen können. Hinzu kommt eine nicht unerhebliche Förderbürokratie, sowohl beim Fördermittelgeber als auch bei den Fördermittelempfängern. Die vorliegende Studie ist aus einer Zuarbeit für die Kommission zur Vereinfachung und Verbesserung von Förderverfahren im Freistaat Sachsen entstanden und befasst sich mit der Frage nach der Übertragbarkeit einzelner Fachförderprogramme in den kommunalen Finanzausgleich (KFA). Nach einer Abgrenzung der unterschiedlichen Zuweisungsformen innerhalb und außerhalb des KFA wird zu diesem Zweck im Anschluss ein finanzwissenschaftlicher Kriterienkatalog aufgestellt. Anhand sowohl allokativer als auch fiskalischer Kriterien aus diesem Katalog werden dann die 24 größten Fachförderprogramme dahingehend untersucht, inwieweit sie sich für eine Übertragung in den kommunalen Finanzausgleich (konkret für Sachsen: ins SächsFAG) eignen. Der erarbeitete Kriterienkatalog ist dabei kein abschließendes Entscheidungsschema, sondern vielmehr eine Orientierungshilfe, die bei der oftmals komplexen Frage über die sachgerechte Art der Zuweisung helfen kann. Im Ergebnis bieten sich fünf der 24 Programme für eine Übertragung in den KFA an, darunter das vom Finanzvolumen her größte Programm zu Förderung von Kindertagesstätten. Darüber hinaus ist für die Richtlinien zur Feuerwehrförderung, zur Investitionsförderung im Schulbereich sowie zur Förderung der schulischen Ganztagsangebote eine Überführung in den KFA sinnvoll und empfehlenswert. Bei insgesamt elf Programmen ist eine Überführung aufgrund verschiedener KO-Kriterien ausgeschlossen. Bei den übrigen acht Programmen ist die Empfehlung nicht eindeutig, sodass eine Überführung in den KFA nur mit Einschränkungen in Betracht kommt. Hierzu gehören unter anderem die Förderrichtlinien für die Sportförderung oder die Schulsozialarbeit.

La question des disparités territoriales, pourtant ancienne, se pose aujourd'hui de manière accrue et renouvelée avec l'ouverture européenne et la globalisation qui induisent une concurrence des territoires toujours plus forte. Or, si celle-ci n'est pas maîtrisée, les conséquences peuvent se révéler importantes en termes de cohésion spatiale. Ainsi, une réflexion approfondie sur les outils de traitement de la question sensible des disparités territoriales s'avère tout à la fois pertinente et nécessaire. Nous retenons ici deux types d'intervention publique qui peuvent apparaître aujourd'hui comme les outils les plus significatifs de réduction des disparités territoriales et que nous étudions dans un contexte de mobilité interrégionale. La thèse est donc organisée autour de deux parties bien distinctes, mais complémentaires quant au fond. La Partie I traite de la péréquation financière comme outil de réduction des disparités territoriales. Le Chapitre 1 a pour vocation d'offrir une revue approfondie et raisonnée de la littérature sur la péréquation financière dans un contexte de mobilité des agents économiques et par conséquent dans une perspective d'efficacité économique. Le Chapitre 2 s'inscrit dans la suite du premier et étudie la capacité d'un système transparent de péréquation financière à restaurer l'efficacité économique. La Partie II de la thèse s'intéresse quant à elle à un second instrument de réduction des disparités territoriales, la coopération intercommunale et à son implication sur la pression fiscale. Le Chapitre 3 évalue cette question d'un point de vue théorique tandis que le Chapitre 4 consiste en une analyse empirique appliquée au cas Français. / The question of territorial disparities, although not a new one, appears to be a very topical issue with European opening and globalization. If the higher competition between territories that arises in this context is not controlled, the consequences can be extremely important in terms of social cohesion. Thereby, a detailed analysis about the instruments used to deal with the sensitive issue of territorial disparities is both relevant and necessary. We then focus on two types of public intervention that appear as the most important instruments used in the reduction of territorial disparities and that we analyze in a context of mobility. The thesis is then organized in two parts that are distinct but complement each other. The Part I is interested in the issue of fiscal equalization as a device to reduce fiscal disparities. The Chapter 1 provides a detailed survey of literature on equalization payments in a context of economic agents' mobility and therefore in an economic efficiency perspective. The Chapter 2 is in line with the first one and analyses the ability of a transparent equalization scheme to be efficiency enhancing. The Part II of the thesis studies a second instrument reduction of territorial disparities, inter-municipal cooperation, and its impact on fiscal pressure. The Chapter 3 look at this issue from a theoretical point of view, while the Chapter 4 is an empirical analysis applied to the French case.