The Role of Budgetary Rules in Multi-Level Governments

In the last decade, especially after the fiscal crisis, policymakers at the supranational and national levels have increased their concern regarding the financial sustainability of public finances and have tightened the control of government deficits by setting permanent financial constraints on government budgets—that is, budgetary rules. The use of budgetary rules in government has been mainly investigated through the lens of public finance and economic theory, while the accounting perspective seems to have been quite neglected. Accounting rules and procedures are critical for the effective functioning of budgetary rules, as they define what has to be measured and lay out a framework for assessing progress and achievement. This chapter aims to start filling this gap by shedding light on the role of budgetary rules in ensuring the financial sustainability of public entities in the context of a multi-level government system.