The Fiscal Imbalances and Methodological Approaches to Their Assessment

Abstract

This article generalizes and systematizes approaches to determining the essence of fiscal imbalances and their types, in particular, taking into account and without taking into account the aspect of possible problems in the sphere of fiscal policy. It is also emphasized that when determining the essence of fiscal imbalances, it is important to realize the difference between accounting and financial terms, since analytics in this terminology is also based on different methods of assessing fiscal imbalance. Such deterministic factors of fiscal imbalances as internal tax competition, tax transfer and tax imbalance in general are analyzed. The conception of marginal expenditures of public funds as a central concept in determining fiscal imbalances is characterized. In addition to the traditional types of fiscal imbalances (vertical and horizontal), there is also an imbalance of justice (according to the research of scientist Dolozina I. L.), which is manifested, in particular, in tax evasion, avoidance of taxation (including aggressive tax planning) and income inequality. The generalized classification of types of fiscal imbalances with the characterizations of causes and manifestations of their occurrence is provided. The results of researches of approaches to assessing fiscal imbalances and indicators used are systematized. It is emphasized that the researchers use most of the indicators to assess fiscal imbalances specified in this article to conduct a panel analysis in order to identify the impact of equalization instruments on different territories and groups of taxpayers.

Keywords

• fiscal imbalance
• vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalances
• fiscal policy
• tax imbalance