Preview

Finance: Theory and Practice

Advanced search

Comparison of Fiscal Policy Cyclicality Models in Foreign Countries

https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2025-29-2-228-237

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issues of fiscal policy cyclicality in foreign countries. The purpose of the article is to explore the features of the fiscal policy cyclicality of some federal countries - representatives of the “group of twenty” for the period from 1971 to 2022. The objective predetermined the setting of the following tasks: to analyze the cyclicality of fiscal policy by expenditures, to analyze the cyclicality of tax policy, as well as to compare the obtained results to identify common patterns of cyclicality for countries with a similar level of economic development. The study of fiscal policy cyclicality is relevant because it allows governments to adjust their fiscal policies according to the current state of the economy. This helps to smooth out fluctuations in economic activity and reduce the risk of recessions. Research methods - econometric modeling (building a linear regression model and using pooled binary least squares estimation), comparison, analysis. Main results of the study: the procyclicality of the public expenditure policy is confirmed in all the countries studied over the period considered, and it has an inverse dependence on the level of economic development of the country (the higher the level of development of the country in the period considered, the less procyclical its expenditure policy). The fiscal policy of all countries under consideration is countercyclical in terms of VAT, corporate and individual income taxes, but the degree of countercyclicality is different everywhere. The novelty of the study is the construction of a dynamic model without a free term, as well as the inclusion in the analysis of periods of global financial crisis, pandemic, the current stage of technological mode change and geopolitical bifurcation. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of balanced development of territories: in federal countries, where there are different levels of economic activity and income in different regions, the establishment of the type of cyclicality of fiscal policy allows a more even distribution of tax and budgetary resources to support the sustainable development of all regions.

About the Authors

M. O. Kakaulina
Financial University
Russian Federation

Maria O. Kakaulina — Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., Department of Public Finance, Faculty of Finance

Moscow



S. E. Demidova
Financial University
Russian Federation

Svetlana E. Demidova — Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof., Department of Public Finance, Faculty of Finance

Moscow



References

1. House C. L., Proebsting C., Tesar L. L. Austerity in the aftermath of the great recession. Journal of Monetary Economics. 2020;115:37-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoneco.2019.05.004

2. Chudik A., Mohaddes K., Raissi M. COVID-19 fiscal support and its effectiveness. Economics Letters. 2021;205:109939. DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109939

3. Muraraęu B., Anghelescu C., Grecu R. A. Assessing fiscal multipliers in times of crisis: Evidence from selected CEE countries. Empirical Economics. 2023;65(4):1627-1654. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-023-02407-9

4. Zaitsev Yu. K. Monetary and fiscal policy measures during the COVID-19 economic crisis in Russia. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2020;24(6):6-18. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2020-24-6-6-18

5. Davoodi H. R., Elger P., Fotiou A., et al. Fiscal rules and fiscal councils: Recent trends and performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. IMF Working Papers. 2022;(11). DOI: 10.5089/9798400200472.001

6. Vegh C. A., Vuletin G. How is tax policy conducted over the business cycle? American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 2015;7(3):327-370. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20120218.

7. Ilzetzki E., Vegh C. A. Procyclical fiscal policy in developing countries: Truth or fiction? NBER Working Paper. 2008;(14191). URL: https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w14191/w14191.pdf

8. Talvi E., Vegh C.A. Tax base variability and procyclical fiscal policy in developing countries. Journal of Development Economics. 2005;78(1):156-190. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2004.07.002

9. Kaminsky G. L., Reinhart C. M., Vegh C.A. When it rains, it pours: Procyclical capital flows and macroeconomic policies. NBER Working Paper. 2004;(10780). URL: https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w10780/w10780.pdf

10. Lane P. R. The cyclical behaviour of fiscal policy: Evidence from the OECD. Journal of Public Economics. 2003;87(12):2661-2675. DOI: 10.1016/S0047-2727(02)00075-0

11. Ahmad A., McManus R., Ozkan F. G. Fiscal space and the procyclicality of fiscal policy: The case for making hay while the sun shines. Economic Inquiry. 2021;59(4):1687-1701. DOI: 10.1111/ecin.13008

12. Jalles J., Kiendrebeogo Y., Lam W. R., Piazza R. Revisiting the countercyclicality of fiscal policy. IMF Working Paper. 2023;(89). URL: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2023/04/29/Revisiting-the-Countercyclicality-of-Fiscal-Policy-532952

13. De Jong J. F.M., Gilbert N. D. Fiscal discipline in EMU? Testing the effectiveness of the excessive deficit procedure. European Journal of Political Economy. 2020;61:101822. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2019.101822

14. Gootjes B., de Haan J. Procyclicality of fiscal policy in European Union countries. Journal of International Money and Finance. 2022;120:102276. DOI: 10.1016/'j.jimonfin.2020.102276

15. Chrysanthakopoulos C., Tagkalakis A. Fiscal rules and tax policy cyclicality. Economics Letters. 2023;225:111035. DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2023.m035

16. Aizenman J., Jinjarak Y., Nguyen H. T.K., Park D. Fiscal space and government-spending and tax-rate cyclicality patterns: A cross-country comparison, 1960-2016. Journal of Macroeconomics. 2019;60:229-252. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2019.02.006

17. McManus R., Ozkan F. G., Trzeciakiewicz D. Why are fiscal multipliers asymmetric? The role of credit constraints. Economica. 2021;88(349):32-69. DOI: 10.1111/ecca.12340

18. Auerbach A. J., Gorodnichenko Y. Fiscal stimulus and fiscal sustainability. NBER Working Paper. 2017;(23789). URL: https://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/23789.html

19. Abeysekera I. The influence of fiscal, monetary, and public policies on sustainable development in Sri Lanka. Sustainability. 2024;16(2):580. DOI: 10.3390/su16020580

20. Alesina A., Favero C., Giavazzi F. Effects of austerity: Expenditure- and tax-based approaches. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 2019;33(2):141-162. DOI: 10.1257/jep.33.2.141

21. Bukina I. S., Smirnov A. I. Tax policy directions in Russia and the possibility of reducing the tax burden on domestic producers operating in the home market. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2020;24(4):104-119. DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2020-24-4-104-119

22. David A. C., Pienknagura S., Yepez J. F. Can fiscal consolidation announcements help anchor inflation expectations? Journal of International Money and Finance. 2025;151:103247. DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2024.103247


Review

For citations:


Kakaulina M.O., Demidova S.E. Comparison of Fiscal Policy Cyclicality Models in Foreign Countries. Finance: Theory and Practice. 2025;29(2):228-237. https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2025-29-2-228-237

Views: 75


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2587-5671 (Print)
ISSN 2587-7089 (Online)