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Weak states and steady states: the dynamics of fiscal capacity

Besley, Timothy, Ilzetzki, Ethan and Persson, Torsten (2013) Weak states and steady states: the dynamics of fiscal capacity. American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 5 (4). 205 - 235. ISSN 1945-7707

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Identification Number: 10.1257/mac.5.4.205

Abstract

Investments in fiscal capacity—economic institutions for tax compliance—are an important feature of economic development. This paper develops a dynamic model to study the evolution of fiscal capacity over time. We contrast a social planner's investment path with politically feasible paths. Three types of states emerge in the long run: a common-interest state where public resources are devoted to public goods, a redistributive state where additional fiscal capacity is used for transfers, and a weak state with no transfers and a low level of public goods provision. We also present some preliminary evidence consistent with the theory.

Item Type: Article
Official URL: https://www.aeaweb.org/journals/mac
Additional Information: © 2013 American Economic Association
Divisions: Economics
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance
JEL classification: E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E2 - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment > E23 - Production
E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E6 - Macroeconomic Policy Formation, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, Macroeconomic Policy, and General Outlook > E60 - General
H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H23 - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
H - Public Economics > H2 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue > H26 - Tax Evasion
H - Public Economics > H4 - Publicly Provided Goods > H41 - Public Goods
Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2013 15:22
Last Modified: 02 Oct 2024 17:06
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/46813

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