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Evaluating election platforms: a task for fiscal councils? Scope and rules of the game in view of 25 years of Dutch practice

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  • Bos, Frits
  • Teulings, Coen
Abstract
In some countries - the Netherlands, UK and USA - the expected economic implications of election platforms of political parties are evaluated by independent economic institutions prior to the election. This paper analyzes the merits and limitations of this process, taking 25 years of Dutch experience as a point of reference. In particular in times of financial crisis and unsustainable public finance, evaluation of election platforms can serve as a disciplining device for unrealistic or (time) inconsistent promises by politicians. More in general, it can help political parties to credibly inform voters about the implications of their platforms, to design more efficient policies and to reach consensus on them. It can also create a level playing field for political parties not represented in the government, in particular those with limited resources for economic information and expertise. However, there may be adverse effects, in particular when trade-offs are presented in an unbalanced way or when the rules of the evaluation provide too much room for gaming and free lunches.

Suggested Citation

  • Bos, Frits & Teulings, Coen, 2011. "Evaluating election platforms: a task for fiscal councils? Scope and rules of the game in view of 25 years of Dutch practice," MPRA Paper 31536, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:31536
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Jordi Baños Rovira & Daniel Montolio & Marco Cangiano & Mark Miller & Ernesto Ganuza & Santiago Lago-Peñas, 2018. "The Challenges of Public Budgeting After the Great Fiscal Crisis: Where Improvements and Reform Can Be Made / Los retos de la presupuestación pública tras la gran crisis fiscal: líneas de mejora y ref," IEB Reports ieb_report_3_2018, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    2. Bos, Frits & Teulings, Coen N, 2012. "The world’s oldest fiscal watchdog: CPB’s analyses foster consensus on economic policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 8902, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Debrun, Xavier & Gerard, Marc & Harris, Jason, 2016. "Fiscal Watchdogs and Sound Fiscal Policy: Is the Barking Loud Enough to Tame Politicians?," MPRA Paper 96683, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2019.
    4. European Fiscal Board (EFB), 2019. "2019 annual report of the European Fiscal Board," Annual reports 2019, European Fiscal Board.
    5. Teulings, Coen & Bos, Frits, 2012. "The world?s oldest fiscal watchdog: CPB?s analyses foster consensus on economic policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 8902, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Evaluation of election platforms; Fiscal watchdogs;

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists

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