Handbook on Fiscal Federalism

The past half-century has seen a significant shift towards decentralization and federalism all over the world. What implications does this have for fiscal relations between different levels of government? What are the challenges that policy makers face in federal systems, especially with regard to spending and taxation responsibilities and revenue sharing, and more broadly public financial management? This handbook explores current topics in the theory and policies concerning fiscal relations between different levels of government. It also addresses emerging issues that policy makers in federal systems are grappling with—such as environmental protection, the sharing of natural resources, corruption, and the impact of federalism and decentralization on national unity.

Moderated by:

Teresa Ter-Minassian
Teresa Ter-Minassian is Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the IMF. She is the editor of an IMF publication "Fiscal Federalism in Theory and Practice." Previously, she has been Deputy Director in the Western Hemisphere Department and in FAD.

Featuring:

Ehtisham Ahmad
Ehtisham Ahmad has been at the IMF since 1990, and has led numerous technical assistance missions, including on fiscal federalism and decentralization issues, and has several publications in related fields. Previously, he worked on the Bank's 1990 World Development Report on Poverty, and was Director of the Development Research Center at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Vito Tanzi
Vito Tanzi retired from the IMF in 2000, after many years as Director of FAD. Since then, he has been State Secretary in the Italian Ministry of Finance, and Advisor at the Inter-American Development Bank. He has seminal contributions in many areas of public finance, and is editor (with Ehtisham Ahmad) of "Managing Fiscal Decentralization."

Danny Leipziger
Danny Leipziger is Vice-President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management in the World Bank (PREM) and Head of the PREM Network—which includes networks on decentralization and governance issues. He has worked extensively on Asia and Latin America.

Please note that due to enhanced security arrangements:

1. An RSVP is required: EventsRSVP@imf.org or (202) 623 7001.

2. Guests please present a photo identification and use the IMF Center entrance at 720 19th St. N.W. Washington DC (at the white tent). Only IMF/World Bank staff should enter through the main 700 19th St. entrance.