Federal Transfers and Fiscal Discipline in India: An Empirical Evaluation

Main author: Bhatt, Antra
Other authors: Scaramozzino, Pasquale
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-19318
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
topic HA Statistics
HJ Public Finance
description This article examines the relationship between federal transfers and fiscal deficits in India. The current system of transfers has been criticized on the grounds that it distorts the incentives for states to promote fiscal discipline. We analyze the relationship between transfers, state domestic product, and fiscal deficit for a panel of states during the period 1990 to 2010. The article finds a positive long-run relationship and bidirectional causality between primary/gross fiscal deficits and non-plan transfers. Further, there is a negative long-run relationship and one-way causality from state domestic product to transfers. These results are confirmed by multivariate cointegration analysis, which finds a long-run relationship between fiscal transfers, state product per capita, and state primary deficit. The evidence in the article is consistent with the system of fiscal transfers being ‘‘gap filling.’’
format Journal Article
author Bhatt, Antra
author_facet Bhatt, Antra
Scaramozzino, Pasquale
authorStr Bhatt, Antra
author_letter Bhatt, Antra
author2 Scaramozzino, Pasquale
author2Str Scaramozzino, Pasquale
title Federal Transfers and Fiscal Discipline in India: An Empirical Evaluation
publisher Sage
publishDate 2015
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/19318/