Euro-area fiscal stance : from theory to practical implementation

Despite large automatic stabilizers, the performance of the Euro area as a whole in terms of fiscal stabilization is relatively poor. This report argues that a meaningful fiscal stance for the Euro area should rely on the current account as a complement to the output gap, and be coordinated only in "exceptional" times, the usual bottom-up approach of fiscal policy remaining appropriate for "normal" times. In such setting, the European Fiscal Board would play a key role in advising the Commission on the existence of "exceptional" circumstances, on the adequate aggregate fiscal stance and on its desirable distribution across member states.