Federalism and fiscal reform

Vol. 14 No. 3 (1994)

Jul-Sep / 1994
Published July 1, 1994
PDF-Portuguese (Português (Brasil))
PDF-Portuguese (Português (Brasil))

How to Cite

Filho, André Franco Montoro. 1994. “Federalism and Fiscal Reform”. Brazilian Journal of Political Economy 14 (3):354-65. https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-31571994- 0755.

Federalism and fiscal reform

André Franco Montoro Filho
Da Faculdade de Economia e Administração e da Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas, Universidade de São Paulo – FIPE-USP, São Paulo/SP, Brasil.
Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 14 No. 3 (1994), Jul-Sep / 1994, Pages 354-365

Abstract

In Brazil there is a general consensus that fiscal adjustment measures are required
to obtain price stability. Nevertheless, this appears as an empty consensus because
it is stated as general propositions with little operational content. This article intends to go
a little further presenting fiscal issues and reforms related to the theory of fiscal federalism.
It is argued that most of macroeconomic fiscal problems arises from an unclear division of
duties between federal and state and local governments. Political resistances to change are
reported and a scheme of fiscal federalism combined with revenue sharing is proposed as
a way to overcome the obstacles to reform since it associates local demand diversity with
regional income redistribution.

JEL Classification: H20; H77; H71.


Keywords: Fiscal federalism fiscal adjustment intergovernmental relations taxation