Leaders’ Impact on Public Spending Priorities: The Case of the German Laender*

We examine determinants of the composition of public expenditure in the German Laender (states) over the period 1992–2008, as the Laender exhibit a high degree of institutional and political homogeneity and are endowed with extensive fiscal competences. Our prime contribution is an investigation int...

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Xehetasun bibliografikoak
Argitaratua izan da:MAGKS - Joint Discussion Paper Series in Economics (Band 09-2012)
Egile Nagusiak: Hayo, Bernd, Neumeier, Florian
Formatua: Arbeit
Hizkuntza:ingelesa
Argitaratua: Philipps-Universität Marburg 2012
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Deskribapena
Gaia:We examine determinants of the composition of public expenditure in the German Laender (states) over the period 1992–2008, as the Laender exhibit a high degree of institutional and political homogeneity and are endowed with extensive fiscal competences. Our prime contribution is an investigation into how political leaders’ socioeconomic background influences public spending priorities. Applying sociological theory, we link preferences for the composition of public spending to social status. In contrast to approaches relying on political budget cycles or partisan theory, we find strong and theory-consistent evidence that prime ministers tend to favour fiscal policies supporting the social class in which they are socialised. Governments led by prime ministers from a poor socioeconomic background spend significantly more on social security, education, health, infrastructure, and public safety.
Deskribapen fisikoa:36 Seiten
ISSN:1867-3678
DOI:10.17192/es2024.0123