Partisan Preferences and Political Institutions: Explaining Fiscal Retrenchment in the European Union

This paper endeavours to illuminate the political and institutional factors that can help explain differing degrees of fiscal retrenchment in European Union countries for the time period 1990-2001. Several variants of the partisan approach and the veto players framework are elucidated and applied to the question of budgetary consolidation. These elaborations yield five working hypotheses which are empirically tested using a time-series cross-section data set of 14 EU countries. The results lend support to the notion that partisan preferences and institutional veto players interact budgetary retrenchment in a rather counterintuitive way.Deficits, Fiscal Adjustment, Partisan Models, Veto Player Models, Binary Time-Series Cross-Section Models

Partisan Preferences and Political Institutions: Explaining Fiscal Retrenchment in the European Union

Driven by the desire to fulfill the Maastricht fiscal criteria and pressed by mounting debt burdens that have accumulated over the past 30 years, a majority of EU-15 countries attempted to reduce their budget deficits during the 1990s. Yet, these nations have exhibited remarkable differences in their ability to pursue such retrenchment policies. This paper endeavours to illuminate the political and institutional factors that can help explain those differing degrees of fiscal retrenchment in European Union countries for the time period 1990-2001. Several variants of the partisan approach and the veto players framework are elucidated and applied to the question of budgetary consolidation. These elaborations yield four working hypotheses which are empirically tested using a time-series cross-section data set of 14 EU countries. The results lend support to the notion that a low number of insitutional veto players increases likelihood and extent of a budgetary retrenchment. Given these findings it is possible to draw some conclusions concerning the effectiveness and deficiencies of the Stability and Growth Pact.

It´s political, stupid! - EMU enlargement between an economic rock and a political hard place -

Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion, EU-Erweiterung, Euro, Währungsraum, European Economic and Monetary Union, EU enlargement, Currency area

Income inequality & redistributional spending: An empirical investigation of competing theories

The link between income inequality and governmental redistribution is still subject to intense research and debate. Starting with the median-voter-hypothesis, a plethora of theoretical models have been developed during the last three decades to identify and explain possible causal relationships. The empirical evidence so far, however, has been mixed. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature on inequality and redistribution, to explicate the theoretical causal mechanisms identified so far, and to provide a comprehensive and rigorous empirical test that overcomes some of the shortcomings of previous empirical studies. Using panel data on 23 OECD countries over the time period of 1971-2005, we not only look at different spending categories but also at the share gains of different income deciles and the median-to-mean ratio. We find robust evidence that income inequality affects redistribution. However, the precise degree of this relationship differs for different parts of the income distribution

Partisan preferences and political institutions: explaining fiscal retrenchment in the European Union

Driven by the desire to fulfill the Maastricht fiscal criteria and pressed by mounting debt burdens that have accumulated over the past 30 years, a majority of EU-15 countries attempted to reduce their budget deficits during the 1990s. Yet, these nations have exhibited remarkable differences in their ability to pursue such retrenchment policies. This paper endeavours to illuminate the political and institutional factors that can help explain those differing degrees of fiscal retrenchment in European Union countries for the time period 1990-2001. Several variants of the partisan approach and the veto players framework are elucidated and applied to the question of budgetary consolidation. These elaborations yield four working hypotheses which are empirically tested using a time-series cross-section data set of 14 EU countries. The results lend support to the notion that a low number of insitutional veto players increases likelihood and extent of a budgetary retrenchment. Given these findings it is possible to draw some conclusions concerning the effectiveness and deficiencies of the Stability and Growth Pact

Широкополосный генератор синусоидального сигнала для спектроскопии электрохимического импеданса

Показана возможность реализации широкополосного генератора синусоидального сигнала посредством совмещения цифрового вычислительного синтезатора и цифро-аналогового преобразователя

Draft Genome Sequence of Acinetobacter johnsonii C6, an Environmental Isolate Engaging in Interspecific Metabolic Interactions

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter johnsonii C6 originates from creosote-polluted groundwater and performs ecological and evolutionary interactions with Pseudomonas putida in biofilms. The draft genome of A. johnsonii C6 is 3.7 Mbp and was shaped by mobile genetic elements. It reveals genes facilitating the biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons and resistance to antimicrobials and metals. </jats:p

Public-Private Collaboration in Swedish Crisis Preparedness: A case study on the local level

In the midst of Sweden rebuilding its total defence, an increasing amount of vital societal services are outsourced to the private sector. Despite the private sector’s growing influence in local Swedish crisis preparedness and management, their role in the system remains vague. To deepen our understanding on the dynamics between the public and private sector in crisis preparedness on a local level, this thesis investigates enabling factors for efficient collaborations, as well as challenges to effective partnerships. The thesis focuses entirely on the perspectives of the public sector, as they are the ones initiating collaborations, as well as the ones ultimately responsible for a functioning local crisis preparedness and management. To achieve this, ten interviews were conducted, nine with representatives from different municipalities, and one with a regional actor that facilitates collaboration between different actors in the region of Stockholm. The study sought to identify key enabling factors and challenges within these private-public relationships, using a theoretical framework focused on partnership resilience, strengths, and weaknesses. The findings of the study are primarily confirming of the theoretical framework. Key takeaways are that partnerships are complex to navigate, with many intertwining factors contributing to the effectiveness of collaborations. In sum, it is vital for local public actors to understand each other’s roles and responsibilities, have clear contracts in place, and be open to flexibility and adaptability in cooperation with the private sector. In addition, established contact networks, open communication, and learning from past crises are vital to facilitate future effective cooperations