The global financial crisis induced a sharp deterioration in EU countries' public finances with government deficits and debt reaching levels unprecedented in recent times. Importantly, this crisis has also brought attention the fact that the countries that have experienced the sharpest...

Examining the cases of Canada, Germany, and Spain, the role played by fiscal equalization schemes in determining subnational borrowing was analyzed, and the link between regional governments’ primary fiscal balances and gross domestic product per capita was tested econometrically. The study...

We analyse the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on EU households' income and assess the cushioning effect of discretionary policy measures taken by the EU Member States. Our assessment is based on the European Commission Spring 2020 forecasts and counterfactual scenarios under a no policy change...

Tax expenditures are preferential tax treatments granted to specific individuals or categories of households which aim at achieving social and economic goals. They are widely used by EU Member States. However, their fiscal and equity impacts are not always clear and their effectiveness and...

Tax expenditures are preferential tax treatments granted to specific individuals or categories of households which aim at achieving social and economic goals - poverty and inequality reduction, and employment promotion, among others. Tax expenditures are widely used by EU Member States. However,...