Local public finance in Europe: Balancing the budget and controlling debt

Book abstract:

This book provides a broad introduction to the intricacies of European local public finance. With detailed analyses of government expenditure, it sets out to understand how fiscal control works. Operating from within the framework of a comparative study, it aims to demonstrate both the advantages and disadvantages of modern governmental arrangements and their implementation.

After an introduction in chapter one, which deals with key issues, definitions, procedure, matters of financial organisation and budget discipline/responsibility, chapter two examines the theory of subnational balanced budgets and debt control. The book is then separated into research on ten EU Member States. These, respectively, explore local budgeting and borrowing in Austria, local public finance in Belgium, local government and debt financing in Denmark, the public debt of local governments in France, local government borrowing in Germany, local borrowing in Italy, borrowing and budgeting in Norway, capital expenditures and commune finance in Switzerland, local government financing and borrowing in Spain, and local government expenditure in England. Chapter thirteen, finally, offers an overall summary of fiscal controls throughout Europe.

The book is intended for political scientists, public sector managers and economists, as well as scholars, practitioners and experienced students of public policy and finance.