2022 Annual meeting of the OECD network on fiscal relations


	18th Annual Meeting of the
	OECD Network on Fiscal Relations across Levels of Government
	Discussion on the Future of Fiscal Relations after the Pandemic Crisis
	21-22 April 2022 – Hybrid Meeting

ITEM I	Introduction
Opening	Junghun Kim, Chair of the Fiscal Network

Introductory Remarks	Sean Dougherty, Head of Network Secretariat
Recently released	Fiscal Federalism 2022

FIRST DAY	THE FUTURE OF FISCAL RELATIONS AFTER THE CRISIS
ITEM II	Strengthening the fiscal governance of states & localities in the light of the pandemic
	The Covid-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on lives, the economy, and the public finances worldwide, drawing attention to the need to enhance resilience to future shocks. How can we best strengthen the fiscal governance of states & localities, given their key role in the provision of essential public goods & services?
Presentation	Teresa Ter-Minassian and Luiz de Mello (OECD) - Improving subnational governments’ resilience post Covid19
Background document	Improving subnational governments’ resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
Presentation	Bill Glasgall (Volcker Alliance) US State Budgets: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Background document	Finland [Forthcoming]

ITEM III	Revisiting and revising subnational fiscal frameworks following the crisis
	During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, subnational fiscal rules were waived in many OECD countries. As we exit the crisis, should intergovernmental fiscal frameworks, subnational fiscal rules and related institutions be re-designed, to better support fiscal sustainability and promote economic stabilisation? There has been extensive disucssion at the European level about the future of fiscal rules and fiscal frameworks, but primarily at a national level. The new paper, based on OECD and EU Surveys, reviews the evidence for subnational rules and combinations over time, and raises important questions about what works.
Presentation	Pietrangelo de Biase (Brazil Treasury) - Subnational fiscal rules before and after the Covid19 crisis
Presentation	Xavier Debrun (Nat’l Bank of Belgium) - Revisiting and revising subnational fiscal frameworks following the crisis
Background document	The past and future of subnational fiscal rules: an analysis of fiscal rules over time [Forthcoming]

ITEM IV	Going beyond fiscal equalisation: new approaches to fiscal equalisation after the crisis
	Fiscal equalisation approaches vary widely, and not every approach has demonstrated the same flexibility to adapt to the pandemic’s fiscal shock, with as many underfunded following the pandemic. Should fiscal equalisation systems be re-designed in light of intensified regional inequalities and climate change challenges?
Presentation	Geert de Joode (Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations, The Netherlands) - Going beyond fiscal equalisation
	Secretariat: Antti Moisio (CFE/RDP) & Andoni Montes (Fiscal Network)
Background document	Going beyond fiscal equalisation: institutional & fiscal tools to fight territorial inequalities

SECOND DAY
ITEM V	Could insurance provide an alternative to fiscal support in crisis response?
	The pandemic led to significant economic disruptions, with governments providing significant monetary and fiscal support to businesses. New risk insurance programmes could potentially address some of the ex ante and ex post challenges related to large-scale fiscal support, but can they overcome design challenges?
Presentation	Secretariat: Leigh Wolfrom (DAF/CFIP) - Could insurance provide an alternative to fiscal support
Presentation	Lead discussant: Esther Baur (Swiss Re) - Could insurance provide an alternative to fiscal support lessons from the pandemic
Background document	Could insurance provide an alternative to fiscal support in crisis response? [Forthcoming]

	ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
ITEM VI	Policy instruments and tools to address the subnational challenges of climate change
	Addressing the challenges of climate change requires high degree of co-ordination across levels of government, with many policy responsibilities for regions and cities. However, there is a lack of reliable data to assess performance. How can central governments strengthen this information and subnational governments’ incentives?
Presentation	Lead speakers: Margaux Lelong (GOV/PMB) on green budgeting approaches; Isabelle Chatry (CFE/RDG) on financing climate actions at the subnational level
	Gianluca Spinaci (European Committee of the Regions)

	PROGRAMME OF WORK DISCUSSION
ITEM VII	Following the COVID-19 crisis, governments are re-assessing priorities and seeking sustainable fiscal paths and strengthening of intergovernmental fiscal frameworks. How can the Network best support this process? The Network’s mandate is scheduled for renewal this year, along with the next programme of work and budget.
	Lead speaker: Sean Dougherty (OECD)

Fiscal federalism network

2022 Annual meeting of the OECD network on fiscal relations