Economics, Politics and Budgets: The Political Economy of Fiscal Consolidations in Europe

List of Tables List of Figures Abbreviations Acknowledgements PART 1: INTRODUCTION Strategies of Fiscal Adjustment Economic and Political Factors Influencing the Adoption of Different Strategies Economic and Political Consequences of Adopting Different Strategies A Summary of the Book's Argument The Structure of the Study PART 2: ECONOMICS, POLITICS AND FISCAL POLICY Governments and Economic Policy Fiscal Policies in the European Union, 1970-2000 The Economics of Fiscal Policies and Fiscal Adjustments The Politics of Fiscal Policies and Fiscal Adjustments Conclusion PART 3: TIMING AND DURATION OF FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS What is a Fiscal Adjustment? Strategies of Fiscal Adjustment: Timing, Duration and Composition The Timing of Fiscal Adjustments: When do they Occur? The Duration of Fiscal Adjustments in the European Union Economic and Political Factors during Stronger Consolidations Conclusion PART 4: THE COMPOSITION OF FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS Why is the Composition Budget Important? Economics, Politics, and Composition of the Budget Composition of the Budget during Fiscal Adjustments Conclusion PART 5: FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE 1990s: CASE STUDIES The Maastricht Treaty and the Decision of Monetary Union Case Studies: Complying with the Maastricht Criteria and the Influence of Political Variables Conclusion PART 6: THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS Fiscal Policy and Macroeconomy THe economic Impact of Fiscal Adjustments THe Economic Impact of Fiscal Adjustments during the 1990s Conclusion PART 7: THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS Fiscal policy, Elections and Government's Accountability The Electoral Consequences of Fiscal Adjustments Changing Public Opinion towards Fiscal Adjustments Conclusion PART 8: CONCLUSION Appendices Statistical Annex Notes and References Bibliography Index