Fiscal Policies in Federal States

This text investigates the impact of federal structure on fiscal policy-making in four country cases and answers the question to what extent federal structures hinder or, on the contrary, enhance a states' decision and co-ordination capacity in the field of fiscal policy. It questions the common assumption that federal structures restrain the co-ordination and hence macroeconomic management capacity. It should be useful for all those working in the field of policy research, and more generally for those who wish not only to attain a deeper and more comprehensive view on fiscal policy making or federalism, but on the territorial dimension or fiscal policy.