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Local Governments’ Fiscal Balance, Privatization, and Banking Sector Reform in Transition Countries

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  • Ernesto Crivelli

Abstract

Several transition economies have undertaken fiscal decentralization reforms over the past two decades along with liberalization, privatization, and stabilization reforms. Theory predicts that decentralization may aggravate fiscal imbalances, unless the right incentives are in place to promote fiscal discipline. This paper uses a panel of 20 transition countries over 19 years to address a central question of fact: Did privatization help to promote local governments’ fiscal discipline? The answer is clearly ‘no’ for privatization considered in isolation. However, privatization and subnational fiscal autonomy along with reforms to the banking system - restraining access to soft financing - may prove effective at improving fiscal balances among local governments.

Suggested Citation

  • Ernesto Crivelli, 2012. "Local Governments’ Fiscal Balance, Privatization, and Banking Sector Reform in Transition Countries," IMF Working Papers 2012/146, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2012/146
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    Cited by:

    1. Milenkovski, Ace & Kozuharov, Sasho & Ristovska, Natasha, 2016. "Financing Possibilities Of The Local Government," UTMS Journal of Economics, University of Tourism and Management, Skopje, Macedonia, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11.
    2. Ananya Kotia & Victor Duarte Lledo, 2016. "Do Subnational Fiscal Rules Foster Fiscal Discipline? New Empirical Evidence from Europe," IMF Working Papers 2016/084, International Monetary Fund.
    3. Janusz J. Tomidajewicz, 2015. "The scope and nature of privatisation in the financial sector," Working papers wpaper97, Financialisation, Economy, Society & Sustainable Development (FESSUD) Project.

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