Fiscal Policy Decentralization And Economic Growth In India

When India's economy faced an unprecedented macroeconomic crisis in 1991, fiscal consolidation constituted a major objective of the policy response. For this purpose, it became necessary to enhance tax and non-tax revenue, curtail current expenditure growth, restructure public sector undertakings, improve fiscal-monetary co-ordination, and deregulate financial system. The need for improvements in budgetary practices led to the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, which ushered the Indian economy into an era of fiscal consolidation based on fiscal policy rules. The passage of the Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992 marked a watershed in the history of modern India. With this amendment, a uniform structure of panchayats (village councils) emerged throughout the country. Similarly, the passage of the Constitution (Seventy-Fourth Amendment) Act, 1992 was a landmark in the history of municipal administration in India. As a result, panchayats and municipalities are now constitutional bodies which form the third tier of the federal polity of India. This decentralization initiative poses challenges and offers opportunities. This book provides an account of the fiscal developments in India during the post-liberalization period, with particular emphasis on decentralization initiatives. It also examines prospects and challenges facing the Indian economy. An appendix included in the book contains the Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement presented to Parliament by Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Finance, on February 26, 2010.

Cover -- India's Fiscal Policy -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Disclaimer -- Introduction: Contours of the Indian Fiscal Policy Debate -- Notes -- 1 Fiscal Policy in India Trends and Trajectory -- Introduction -- Basic concepts and analytical framework -- India's fiscal policy architecture -- Evolution of Indian fiscal policy till 1991 -- Liberalization, growth, inclusion and fiscal consolidation (1991-2008) -- Crisis and return to fiscal consolidation: The maturing of Indian fiscal policy -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 2 Decentralization, Indirect Tax Reform and Fiscal Federalism in India -- Introduction -- Economic disparity across Indian states -- The GST and the role of the FC -- Some recent reforms in indirect taxation and their beneficial effects -- Some remaining issues with the indirect tax structure -- Agenda for indirect tax reform -- Structure of transfers from the central government to state governments -- FC transfers -- PC transfers -- Centrally sponsored schemes -- Transfers to PRIs and urban bodies -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- 3 Fiscal Implications of Energy Subsidies -- Introduction -- Petroleum subsidies -- Subsidies in the coal sector -- Subsidies in the power sector -- Renewable energy sector -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- 4 Fiscal Implications of Food Security in India: A Critical Review -- Introduction -- Concept of food security -- Fiscal policy and food security in India -- Food security policies in some countries -- Bangladesh -- Bhutan -- Maldives -- Nepal -- Pakistan -- Sri Lanka -- Review of food security policies in India -- On availability -- On access -- Antyodaya Anna Yojana -- On nutrition -- Integrated child development services -- Mid-day meal scheme -- Social security through MGNREGS -- NFSA, 2013: What are the macro-fiscal impacts?

Addresses Issues Such As-Sustainablity Of Fiscal Deficits, The Role Of Tax Enhancing Measures, Cuts In Government Spacing, The Impact Of Government Spacing On Economic Growth And The Agenda For Policy Makers In The Future. Contains 12 Papers.

This book discusses various dimensions of Indian fiscal federalism, focusing on the current fiscal imbalances – both vertical and horizontal – and their correction. Throwing light on different angles of this subject, it presents well-researched papers, which are divided into three sections. The first section, ‘Fiscal federalism and resolving the fiscal imbalances’, includes five chapters that discuss this theme and also explain the various strategies to remove the existing imbalances in India. ‘Fiscal decentralization for high growth’ which is the second section, explains how decentralisation leads to high economic growth and showcases empirical evidence from a few Indian states that are flourishing due to this policy. The third section, ‘Emerging issues’ offers six chapters describing several existing key concerns in fiscal federalism that have a major impact on achieving India’s development goals. Including contributions from leading academics in this field, the book will be of great interest to research scholars and policy makers alike. “Besides addressing the core issue of fiscal imbalances and ways to correct them, the [chapters] touch on several issues confronting the Indian fiscal system at the centre , state and local levels. The [chapters] are well researched and well argued. The book is a valuable addition to the literature on Fiscal Federalism.” – Dr. C. Rangarajan, Ex-Governor of Reserve Bank of India; Chairman, Madras School of Economics, Chennai, India.

Intergovernmental fiscal frameworks, as considered by the OECD Network on Fiscal Relations Across Levels of Government, are a core driver of inclusive growth. Certain institutions and policies can contribute to a more equitable distribution of economic gains across jurisdictions and income groups, such as equalisation systems. In particular, the quality of public sector outcomes depends on how responsibilities and functions such as education or health care are shared across government levels. This implies that intergovernmental fiscal frameworks, which drive the division of roles of the central and sub-national governments, critically influence growth and the inclusiveness of an economy. This book brings together academics and practitioners to address key aspects of intergovernmental fiscal relations and country experience, as they relate to inclusive growth.