Grants systems in OECD countries: trends and some policy issues Experts meeting on “General Grants Vs. Earmarked Grants: Theory and practice” Thursday September 17 th, 2009 Camila Vammalle, Hansjörg Bloechliger OECD 1
Share of transfers in total government expenditure (2005) 2 Source: National Accounts
Change in the share of transfers in government expenditure ( ) 3 Source: National Accounts
Change in SCG expenditure to total government expenditure ratio ( ) 4 Source: National Accounts
Change in SCG tax revenues on total government tax revenues ( ) 5 Source: National Accounts
Composition of Grants (2006) 6 Note: the first line corresponds to state averages, the second line to local averages. Source: OECD Fiscal Decentralisation Database
Change in the composition of grants ( ) 7 Note: the first line corresponds to state averages, the second line to local averages. Source: OECD Fiscal Decentralisation Database
Some policy issues (1/4) Grants have an equalisation role Equalisation grants represent: 2.3% of GDP 4.8% of total government expenditure 55% of total intergovernmental grants 8
Some policy issues (2/4) Grants may reduce externalities –Spending or tax –Horizontal or vertical –Matching grants –Are these externalities overestimated? 9
Some policy issues (3/4) Earmarked grants may be used to fund specific policies –Such as: risk sharing, experimentation, co-funding, addressing exceptional situations e.g.: Share of grants to SCGs in national stimulus packages: 10
Some policy issues (4/4) But grants may have unintended side effects –Reducing SCG tax effort –Putting pressure on spending, deficits and debts Thus need a skilful grant design and combining grants with complementary instruments 11
Thank you! 12