Wagner's law in Italy: empirical evidence from 1960 to 2008

Magazzino, Cosimo (2009): Wagner's law in Italy: empirical evidence from 1960 to 2008. Forthcoming in: Global & Local Economic Review , Vol. XIV, No. 1 (August 2010): pp. 91-116.

Abstract

“Wagner’s Law” is the first model of public expenditure in the history of public finance. The aim of this article is to assess its empirical evidence in Italy for the period 1960-2008. After a brief introduction, an essential survey of the economic literature on this issue is offered, before evaluating the specifications of “Wagner’s Law” due either to Ram or Koop & Poirier. Wagner’s original specification is also evaluated. A few notes on the expenditure policy in Italy conclude the paper.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Public expenditure; Wagner's Law; structural reforms; public finance
• Subjects: E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E6 - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook > E62 - Fiscal Policy; H - Public Economics > H6 - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt > H60 - General

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