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Fiscal Transfers in the Spatial Economy

Author

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  • Südekum, Jens
  • Seidel, Tobias
  • Henkel, Marcel
Abstract
Many countries operate pronounced fiscal equalization schemes that shift tax revenue across jurisdictions. We use a general equilibrium model with multiple asymmetric regions, costly trade and labor mobility to carve out the aggregate implications of this policy. Calibrating the model for Germany, we find that it indeed delivers smaller spatial economic disparities across regions. This comes at the cost of lower national output, however, because activity is diverted away from core cities and towards remote areas with low productivity. But despite this output loss, fiscal transfers may still raise national welfare, because they effectively countervail over-congestion in large cities.

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  • Südekum, Jens & Seidel, Tobias & Henkel, Marcel, 2018. "Fiscal Transfers in the Spatial Economy," CEPR Discussion Papers 12875, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:12875
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    5. Sven Wardenburg & Thomas Brenner, 2020. "How to improve the quality of life in peripheral and lagging regions by policy measures? Examining the effects of two different policies in Germany," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1047-1073, November.
    6. Martins, Thales G.V. & Reis, Geraldo G. & Reis, Maria G.F. & Telles, Lucas A.A. & Lage, Mayara R. & Mendes, Gleidson G.C. & Pinto, Dayane L. & Castro, Nero L.M. & Lorenzon, Alexandre S. & Silva, Ricar, 2020. "Potential planting areas for native tree species in minas gerais state, Brazil, based on environmental variables and wood demand," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 432(C).
    7. Sven Wardenburg & Thomas Brenner, 2019. "The impact of place-based policies on perceived regional living conditions across German labor market regions. Examining the impacts on migration flows," Working Papers on Innovation and Space 2019-02, Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography.
    8. Sheedy, Elizabeth & Zhang, Le & Tam, Kenny Chi Ho, 2019. "Incentives and culture in risk compliance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Channing Arndt & Chris Loewald & Konstantin Makrelov, 2020. "Climate change and its implications for central banks in emerging and developing economies," Working Papers 10001, South African Reserve Bank.
    10. Yannick Bury & Lars P. Feld & Heiko T. Burret, 2024. "Skimming the achieved? Quantifying the fiscal incentives of the German fiscal equalization scheme and its reforms since 1970," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 291-334, September.
    11. Manuel E. Lago & Santiago Lago-Peñas & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, 2024. "On the effects of intergovernmental grants: a survey," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 31(3), pages 856-908, June.
    12. Geert Jennes, 2021. "Interregional fiscal transfers resulting from central government debt: New insights and consequences for political economy," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(2), pages 196-223, May.
    13. Fabian Bald, Marcel Henkel, 2021. "The Role of Local Public Goods for Gender Gaps in the Spatial Economy," Diskussionsschriften credresearchpaper33, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft - CRED.
    14. Becker, Raphael Niklas & Henkel, Marcel, 2020. "The role of key regions in spatial development," DICE Discussion Papers 331, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    15. Seidel, Tobias & Wickerath, Jan, 2020. "Rush hours and urbanization," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    16. Ahlfeldt, Gabriel M. & Heblich, Stephan & Seidel, Tobias, 2023. "Micro-geographic property price and rent indices," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    17. Simone Maxand & Hend Sallam, 2024. "Local Fiscal Effects of Immigration in Germany," CESifo Working Paper Series 11162, CESifo.
    18. Antonia Reinecke & Hans-Jörg Schmerer, 2019. "Estimating the Local Effectiveness of Institutions: A Latent-Variable Approach," CESifo Working Paper Series 7979, CESifo.
    19. Ferrara, Antonella Rita & Dijkstra, Lewis & McCann, Philip & Nisticó, Rosanna, 2022. "The response of regional well-being to place-based policy interventions," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    20. Marcel Henkel, Eunjee Kwon, Pierre Magontier, 2022. "The Unintended Consequences of Post-Disaster Policies for Spatial Sorting," Diskussionsschriften credresearchpaper37, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft - CRED.
    21. Gehr, Katja & Pflüger, Michael P., 2023. "The Worth of Cities in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 16127, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    22. Naoki Tani & Yuki Uemura, 2023. "General Equilibrium Analysis of Fiscal Transfers in an Aging Society," KIER Working Papers 1093, Kyoto University, Institute of Economic Research.
    23. Tauli-Corpuz, Vicky & Alcorn, Janis & Molnar, Augusta & Healy, Christina & Barrow, Edmund, 2020. "Cornered by PAs: Adopting rights-based approaches to enable cost-effective conservation and climate action," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    24. Timothy C. Irwin, 2020. "Accrual Accounting and the Government's Intertemporal Budget Constraint," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(4), pages 128-141, December.
    25. George Abuselidze, 2019. "Analysis Of The Formation And Use Of Budgetary Policies Ensuring The Socio-Economic Development Of Territorial Units," Economic Archive, D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria, issue 2 Year 20, pages 3-15.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal equalization; Regional transfers; Migration; Spatial economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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