The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach

Abstract In recent times, a strand of macro-stabilization experts has been expressing great concern about the move towards fiscal federalism being embraced by many countries over the past three decades. They argue that it could endanger fiscal discipline because it is incompatible with prudent fisca...

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Main Authors: Kayode Olaide, Josine Uwilingiye, Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-02-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04489-5
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author Kayode Olaide
Josine Uwilingiye
Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
author_facet Kayode Olaide
Josine Uwilingiye
Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
author_sort Kayode Olaide
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In recent times, a strand of macro-stabilization experts has been expressing great concern about the move towards fiscal federalism being embraced by many countries over the past three decades. They argue that it could endanger fiscal discipline because it is incompatible with prudent fiscal management. However, some other experts disagree and believe the impact on fiscal discipline could be positive. But, despite the lack of unanimity in the theoretical discourse on the fiscal discipline impact of fiscal federalism, empirical studies on the relationship are still scarce and mixed in conclusions. Using a panel quantile regression estimation approach for a sample of twenty countries over the period 1996–2018, this study establishes that the impact of fiscal federalism on fiscal discipline may not be constant on the conditional mean of the fiscal discipline but varies along its conditional distribution. Moreover, it reveals that quality institutional framework and federalism, each improves the fiscal discipline impact of fiscal federalism, and that countries with a history of low fiscal discipline stand to benefit more from this. The policy implication of this is that in the design and operation of the fiscal federalism apparatus, policy decision-makers should take into consideration the fiscal discipline history of the country. The design of fiscal decentralization apparatus should be appropriately tailored towards each country’s peculiar characteristics and government fiscal stance. Also, it is essential that a quality institutional framework be put in place to support the fiscal decentralization apparatus.
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spelling doaj-art-2712767fe6b246bdb3154dc45b8641692025-02-09T12:25:53ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-02-0112111110.1057/s41599-025-04489-5The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approachKayode Olaide0Josine Uwilingiye1Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne2University of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgAbstract In recent times, a strand of macro-stabilization experts has been expressing great concern about the move towards fiscal federalism being embraced by many countries over the past three decades. They argue that it could endanger fiscal discipline because it is incompatible with prudent fiscal management. However, some other experts disagree and believe the impact on fiscal discipline could be positive. But, despite the lack of unanimity in the theoretical discourse on the fiscal discipline impact of fiscal federalism, empirical studies on the relationship are still scarce and mixed in conclusions. Using a panel quantile regression estimation approach for a sample of twenty countries over the period 1996–2018, this study establishes that the impact of fiscal federalism on fiscal discipline may not be constant on the conditional mean of the fiscal discipline but varies along its conditional distribution. Moreover, it reveals that quality institutional framework and federalism, each improves the fiscal discipline impact of fiscal federalism, and that countries with a history of low fiscal discipline stand to benefit more from this. The policy implication of this is that in the design and operation of the fiscal federalism apparatus, policy decision-makers should take into consideration the fiscal discipline history of the country. The design of fiscal decentralization apparatus should be appropriately tailored towards each country’s peculiar characteristics and government fiscal stance. Also, it is essential that a quality institutional framework be put in place to support the fiscal decentralization apparatus.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04489-5
spellingShingle Kayode Olaide
Josine Uwilingiye
Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne
The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach
title_full The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach
title_fullStr The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach
title_short The relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline: panel quantile regression approach
title_sort relationship between fiscal federalism and fiscal discipline panel quantile regression approach
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04489-5
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