The Future of Federalism

Intergovernmental Financial Relations in an Age of Austerity

Studies in Fiscal Federalism and State-local Finance series

Edited by Richard Eccleston, Director, Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of Tasmania and Richard Krever, Director, Taxation Law and Policy Research Group, Monash Business School, Monash University, Australia

这场危机及其后果有一个戏剧性的短期term effect on federal relations and, as the twelve case studies in this volume show, set in place a new set of socio-political factors that are shaping the longer-run process of institutional evolution and adaptation in federal systems. This illuminating book illustrates how an understanding of these complex dynamics is crucial to the development of policies needed for effective and sustainable federal governance in the twenty-first century.

‘This book discusses how twelve decentralized countries – some federal, some not – coped with the recent economic crisis. These structured comparative case studies show that the different combinations of rigid and flexible “federal” features found in each country shaped its reaction to changing economic circumstances, both reinforcing the importance of understanding institutional dynamics in analysing decentralized systems and showing that “federalism” (broadly defined) need not be an obstacle to change but may sometimes be the best way a diverse country can accommodate change.’
– Richard M. Bird, University of Toronto, Canada

‘Eccleston and Krever have produced a masterful edited volume on the impact of the worldwide financial crisis on twelve federations or near-federations. This book theoretically informs scholars of democracy, institutions, and of course, federalism on how fiscal pressures contributed to shaping governance in tough times. The cases are informative and focused. It is a major contribution to our understanding of federalism under duress and could not be more timely.’
– Carol S. Weissert, Florida State University, US