

Fiscal decentralization in Russia and the world: trends and effects
https://doi.org/10.32609/0042-8736-2021-11-89-107
Abstract
The paper identifies the state of federal and local fiscal decentralization in Russia and its effects. Original classification of decentralization indicators by a consolidated parameter indicator and a single-level parameter indicator (fiscal autonomy) is proposed. The indicator of vertical imbalance is allocated to a separate group. Despite the upward trend of fiscal decentralization in the world, Russian federal fiscal decentralization (the size of fiscal powers of regional authorities) has not increased and lags most other federations. However, the state of local decentralization (the size of fiscal powers of local authorities) is much worse, since for 2008-2018 there was a significant reduction and local revenue decentralization is minimal compared to other federations. The results obtained may indicate that fiscal decentralization could not contribute to the efficiency of the Russian budgetary system. The decrease in local decentralization may have been caused by the growth of the regional debt, but the question of why there was a decrease remains open. Favorable role of significant local fiscal powers on business and alleged existence of a threshold in decentralization-macroindicators relationship are also confirmed.
About the Author
E. N. TimushevRussian Federation
Evgeny N. Timushev
Syktyvkar
References
1. Deryugin A. N. Alekseev M. V., Mamedov A. A., Fomina E. G. (2017). Influence of the main characteristics of intergovernmental relations on the indicators of economic development in the subjects of the Russian Federation. Moscow: RANEPA. (In Russian).
2. Adam A., Delis M. D., Kammas P. (2014). Fiscal decentralization and public sector efficiency: Evidence from OECD countries. Economics of Governance, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 17—49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10101-013-0131-4
3. Aldasoro I., Seiferling M. (2014). Vertical fiscal imbalances and the accumulation of government debt. IMF Working Papers, No. 14/209. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484357552.001
4. Canaleta C. G., Arzoz P. P., Gárate M. R. (2004). Regional economic disparities and decentralization. Urban Studies, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 71—94. https://doi.org/10.1080/0042098032000155696
5. de Mello L. (2011). Does fiscal decentralisation strengthen social capital? Cross-country evidence and the experiences of Brazil and Indonesia. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 281—296. https://doi.org/10.1068/c10102r
6. Ezcurra R., Pascual P. (2008). Fiscal decentralization and regional disparities: Evidence from several European Union countries. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 1185—1201. https://doi.org/10.1068/a39195
7. Fiva J. H. (2006). New evidence on the effect of fiscal decentralization on the size and composition of government spending. FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 250—280. https://doi.org/10.1628/001522106X120659
8. Gemmell N., Kneller R., Sanz I. (2013). Fiscal decentralization and economic growth: Spending versus revenue decentralization. Economic Inquiry, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 1915—1931. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2012.00508.x
9. Harguindéguy J. B. P., Cole A., Pasquier R. (2021). The variety of decentralization indexes: A review of the literature. Regional and Federal Studies, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 185—208. https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2019.1566126
10. Hooghe L. et al. (2016). Measuring regional authority: A postfunctionalist theory of Governance, Vol. I. Oxford University Press.
11. Jin J., Zou H. F. (2002). How does fiscal decentralization affect aggregate, national, and subnational government size? Journal of Urban Economics, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 270—293. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-1190(02)00004-9
12. Ligthart J. E., van Oudheusden P. (2017). The fiscal decentralisation and economic growth nexus revisited. Fiscal Studies, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 141—171. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-5890.12099
13. Liu L., Tan K. S. (2009). Subnational credit ratings: A comparative review. World Bank Policy Research Working Papers, No. 5013. https://doi.org/doi:10.1596/18139450-5013
14. Martinez-Vazquez J., Lago-Peсas S., Sacchi A. (2017). The impact of fiscal decentralization: A survey. Journal of Economic Surveys, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 1095—1129. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12182
15. Oates W. E. (2006). On the theory and practice of fiscal decentralization. IFIR Working Paper, No. 2006-05.
16. Rodríguez-Pose A., Ezcurra R. (2011). Is fiscal decentralization harmful for economic growth? Evidence from the OECD countries. Journal of Economic Geography, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 619—643. https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbq025
17. Schild C. J., Wrede M. (2015). Cultural identity, mobility and decentralization. Journal of Comparative Economics, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 323—333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2014.05.002
18. Stegarescu D. (2005). Public sector decentralisation: Measurement concepts and recent international trends. Fiscal Studies, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 301—333. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2005.00014.x
19. Thornton J. (2007). Fiscal decentralization and economic growth reconsidered. Journal of Urban Economics, Vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 64—70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jue.2006.06.001
20. Tiebout C. M. (1956). A pure theory of local expenditures. Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 416—424.
21. Yushkov A. (2015). Fiscal decentralization and regional economic growth: Theory, empirics, and the Russian experience. Russian Journal of Economics, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 404—418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ruje.2016.02.004
Supplementary files
Review
For citations:
Timushev E.N. Fiscal decentralization in Russia and the world: trends and effects. Voprosy Ekonomiki. 2021;(11):89-107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.32609/0042-8736-2021-11-89-107