Suchergebnisse

This article attempts to refine the statement that federal states face difficulties in fiscal policy making because of the territorial division of powers by comparing two federal countries, Canada and Germany. These two countries differ in terms of their type of federalism: Canada displaying a power-separation system and Germany corresponding to a power-sharing type. According to the authors, the territorial factor influences fiscal policymaking through the distribution of taxing and spending powers as well as through patterns of intergovernmental relations. The use of fiscal policy instruments and the likely effects on conflict and cooperation in those two countries is discussed with empirical evidence. The authors come to the conclusion that federalism is indeed a constraint on fiscal policy making, but that the two types of power division face different obstacles and deal differently with fiscal problems. In the power-separation system of Canada, the federal government has encompassing competencies to use fiscal policy instruments unilaterally and without restraint, but faces a lack of concerted action with the provinces which reduces its scope of action in fiscal policy making. In the power-sharing system in Germany, concerted action facilitates macroeconomic stabilisation strategies but the compulsory negotiation system distorts the use of fiscal policy instruments by distributive bargaining. (European Journal of Political Research / FUB)

This paper analyses the economic effects of the eastern enlargement of the EU both on the existing Member States and the candidate countries using simulation results of a dynamic computable general equilibrium model. In addition to conventional trade policy impacts such as custom union formation and common agricultural policy the effects of factor mobility, induced by institutional changes, are analyzed. The analysis is based on six different scenarios. According to the results EU membership will accelerate growth in output, investment and consumption in the candidate countries in all scenarios. However, it turns out that factor mobility effects dominate those of conventional trade policy. Growth in national income will lag behind GDP growth because profits will be paid out to foreign investors. Migration will slow output growth in the candidate countries and accelerate growth in the existing Member States, while the trends in per capita consumption will be reversed; migration increases per capita consumption in the new Member States and reduces it slightly in the existing ones.

Budgeting is not only a technical process but also a highly political one because technique and discretionary judgement are intertwined, and different actors have different interests. Budgetary procedures can and should help to reduce various types of information imbalance and help local authorities to deliver services more effectively. This study highlights certain sensitive areas in the budgeting process, analyses the solutions tried by the different Council of Europe member states and identifies practices that seem particulary worthwhile. It suggest finally conclusions and guidelines for central governments and for local and regional authorities.

Since 1945 there have been recurring reports in Italy stating that Mussolini and Churchill were bound by close fellowship. Letters written secretly during the time of Italy's entry into the war in the spring of 1940 are the basis for this controversial allegation. Although proof has never been given confirming the existence of these letters, new rumours continue to crop up. Those responsible are neo-fascist writers who wish to reinstate Mussolini by placing him close to Churchill. Hans Woller raises the question whether these rumours are historically valid and traces the various stages of the relationship between Churchill and Mussolini from 1922 to 1945. The outcome of this study is without doubt: there were no secret contacts and there were no secret plans. Although the Italian dictator and the British aristocrat had gotten along well in the 1920's, their relationship deterioated during the Abyssinian crisis and by 1940 they were firmly encamped enemies where any kind of understanding was out of the question. (Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte / FUB)