China's reform of intergovernmental fiscal relations in the light of European experiences

The paper looks a China's institutional reforms in public finances against the background of European experiences. Particular attention is given to Switzerland and Germany where there is a high degree of consensus forming mechanisms. These federations are also characterized by concepts of regional fairness and are hence more appropriate as potential models than competitive federalism models such as that of the United States. The basic characteristics of the two European federations are described and analyzed.