Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform

Purpose – This study quantitatively examines the relationship between economic fluctuations and government budget size in the context of China’s fiscal decentralization, drawing inspiration from theoretical predictions of the Keynesian view and empirical studies on other economies. Design/methodolog...

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Main Authors: Cheng Li, Hui Yao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2024-09-01
Series:Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JABES-06-2023-0205/full/pdf
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author Cheng Li
Hui Yao
author_facet Cheng Li
Hui Yao
author_sort Cheng Li
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – This study quantitatively examines the relationship between economic fluctuations and government budget size in the context of China’s fiscal decentralization, drawing inspiration from theoretical predictions of the Keynesian view and empirical studies on other economies. Design/methodology/approach – The panel comprises 31 provinces or equivalents in mainland China, spanning from 1994 to 2019. Diverse estimation strategies including two-way fixed effect regression, the generalized method of moments (GMM) and threshold regressions are, utilized. Findings – The results suggest that under the “tax-assignment system”, neither the central government’s fiscal transfers nor the provincial budgetary revenues or expenditures help reduce economic volatility. Surprisingly, some regression outcomes suggest that government size measures destabilize business cycles. Originality/value – While the study does not provide supportive evidence for the stabilizing effect of public budgets in Chinese provinces, it promotes a rethinking of the government’s intricate role in macroeconomic stabilization in the context of China’s fiscal decentralization.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2515-964X
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher Emerald Publishing
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series Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
spelling doaj-art-042d9aebbdd6489c9b2f4a8d6552b4082025-08-20T03:44:07ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Asian Business and Economic Studies2515-964X2024-09-0131427728910.1108/JABES-06-2023-0205Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reformCheng Li0Hui Yao1Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Institute of Economics, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Economics, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, ChinaPurpose – This study quantitatively examines the relationship between economic fluctuations and government budget size in the context of China’s fiscal decentralization, drawing inspiration from theoretical predictions of the Keynesian view and empirical studies on other economies. Design/methodology/approach – The panel comprises 31 provinces or equivalents in mainland China, spanning from 1994 to 2019. Diverse estimation strategies including two-way fixed effect regression, the generalized method of moments (GMM) and threshold regressions are, utilized. Findings – The results suggest that under the “tax-assignment system”, neither the central government’s fiscal transfers nor the provincial budgetary revenues or expenditures help reduce economic volatility. Surprisingly, some regression outcomes suggest that government size measures destabilize business cycles. Originality/value – While the study does not provide supportive evidence for the stabilizing effect of public budgets in Chinese provinces, it promotes a rethinking of the government’s intricate role in macroeconomic stabilization in the context of China’s fiscal decentralization.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JABES-06-2023-0205/full/pdfGovernment budgetsBusiness cyclesFiscal decentralization
spellingShingle Cheng Li
Hui Yao
Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform
Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
Government budgets
Business cycles
Fiscal decentralization
title Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform
title_full Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform
title_fullStr Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform
title_full_unstemmed Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform
title_short Are government budgets a visible stabilizer? Evidence from China since the tax-assignment reform
title_sort are government budgets a visible stabilizer evidence from china since the tax assignment reform
topic Government budgets
Business cycles
Fiscal decentralization
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JABES-06-2023-0205/full/pdf
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