Most OECD economies witnessed a liberalization of economic policies over the past thirty years. The present paper examines to what extent this development is caused by domestic political and economic factors on the one hand, and international policy diffusion via competitive interaction of...

The new financial framework of the EU for the years from 2007 to 2013 provides for total liabilities amounting to € 864 billion. The budget thereby just slightly exceeds 1 percent of aggregate national income of the 27 member states. However, the composition of expenditure corresponds only to...

The frequently expressed assumption that there is significant savings potential in Austria's public administration is based on the general notion that Austrian bureaucracy is "too large" and/or "too expensive". In the context of ongoing discussions on administrative reform, this study compares...

Agricultural expenditures had been a major item of the EU budget over decades. Yet, consequent to extensive reforms that began in 1992, farming's share of the budget has been shrinking substantially. Expenditures for structural policies and competition have reached levels in excess of the...

To curb the rise of government debt it is necessary to evaluate public expenditures and revenues in terms of their necessity and efficiency. Notwithstanding the potential to improve the balance by raising taxes or levying new ones this article concentrates on adjustment options on the...

As a result of the economic crisis many countries are battling rising debt once more. Therefore political discussions about future consolidation strategies are becoming more frequent. As there is a large number of relevant studies on to fiscal adjustment, this article tries to sum up and compare...

The programmes for financial market stabilisation and economic stimulus, which were implemented to cushion the effects of the financial and economic crisis, as well as additional government expenditures in the wake of the crisis, have entailed substantial costs for government budgets....

At the end of 2008 the international financial and economic crisis triggered the deepest recession since the 1930s. At an annual rate of 1.8 percent the Austrian economy will expand more slowly – by ¾ percentage points – than in the 10 years before the economic crisis of 2009. Austria's...

The global financial and economic crisis will have an adverse effect on Austria's growth in the medium-term. Between 2010 and 2014, gross domestic product will expand by an average of 1.8 percent per year. The recession has lasting effects on the labour market and public finances. The inflation...