The Size of Government and U.S.-European Differences in Economic Performance

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norikazu Tawara ◽  
Gerwin Bell
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-243
Author(s):  
Livio Di Matteo ◽  
Thomas Barbiero

There is considerable evidence that the size of the public sector can influence an economy’s rate of economic growth. We investigate public sector spending of central governments and economic performance in two G7 countries over the long-term, Canada and Italy. Their economic performance has diverged in the last 25 years and it is worth investigating whether the size of government was a contributing factor. We find that in both the case of Canada and Italy the size of central government spending directly affects the performance of their economies in an inverse U-shaped relationship known as a Scully/BARS Curve. These results suggest that along with modifying current central government size, other levels of governments may need to shrink their own spending. The fact that the amount spent by government on pensions as a percentage of GDP in Italy is nearly 4 times that in Canada may partly explain the higher level of Italy’s public debt as well as an indirect contributing factor to economic stagnation in the last 25 years.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Franchino ◽  
Fedra Negri

Do economic policy preferences distinguish populist voters from mainstream ones? We compare the preference profile of the voters of the Five Star Movement (M5S), one of the most successful southern European populist parties, with the profile of voters of other parties at both the 2013 national and the 2014 European Parliament elections by means of a conjoint analysis experiment on economic policy programs. Despite economic insecurity and recent recessions being key drivers of populist voting, we provide evidence that M5S supporters are fiscally moderate: they are happy with the current size of government and oppose more spending. Their Euroscepticism, shared with right-wing voters and representing a new domestic divide, takes the form of a lukewarm support for the euro, which they would readily ditch if it were to improve economic performance.


2009 ◽  
Vol 09 (92) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerwin Bell ◽  
Norikazu Tawara ◽  
◽  

2006 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz Handler ◽  
Bertrand Koebel ◽  
J. Philipp Reiss ◽  
Margit Schratzenstaller

Obvious differences between countries regarding their economic performance have led to the question whether the size, structure, and organisation of the public sector contribute to cross-country income levels and growth gaps. Public sector activities may have an effect on overall productivity and economic growth via two channels: directly, through the level and changes of productivity within the public sector, and indirectly, by triggering off productivity changes in private production. This paper is concerned with the former aspect. It provides an overview of recent empirical literature on public sector performance and relates performance to the size and structure of the public sectors in Europe, the US and Japan. The results are not fully conclusive, but seem to attribute more efficiency to smaller rather than to larger government sectors. Public sector reforms aiming to consolidate the size of government are likely to enhance the sector's own productivity and are thereby prone to contribute positively to overall economic performance.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mª de la Cruz Déniz‐Déniz ◽  
Mª Katiuska Cabrera-Suárez ◽  
Josefa D. Martín-Santana

2013 ◽  
pp. 4-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Mau

The paper deals with the trends in the world and Russian economies towards development of a new post-crisis system, including technological and structural transformation. Three main scenarios of Russian economic development (conservative, innovation and acceleration) are discussed basing on historical analysis of Russian economic performance since 1970-s when oil boom started. On this basis key challenges of economic policy in 2013 are discussed.


2014 ◽  
pp. 4-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Mau

The paper deals with Russian social and economic development in 2013 and prospects for the next year or two. The author discusses the logic and trends of the global crisis started in 2008. This is the basis for further analysis of current Russian economic performance with special emphasis on the problem of growth rates deceleration. Special attention is paid to economic risks and priorities of economic policy.


2012 ◽  
pp. 94-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Antipina

The article contains a review of the contemporary research in the field of economics of happiness. Economics of happiness deals with correlation between the subjective notion of well-being and happiness with ones life (happiness level) and economic indicators. The author considers the correlation of economic and noneconomic factors. The last ones —  such as education and health — also affect the level of happiness. The author dwells upon the following questions: research methodology in economics of happiness, correlation between subjective notion of well-being and happiness with ones life and economic performance on micro- and macrolevels.


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