{"product_id":"9781452747972","title":"Rules-Based Fiscal Policy in France, Germany, Italy and Spain","description":"Fiscal rules can help to counteract the deficits and spending biases that too often originate in the political process. Rules that constrain spending--rather than the balance--allow fiscal policy to be countercyclical. Yet the design of effective spending rules is by no means straightforward. Should a rule be real or nominal? How comprehensive should the definition of spending be? What safeguards ensure the credibility of a rule? How do rules work in decentralized systems where regions and states are partially autonomous? France, Germany, Italy, and Spain--countries that could benefit from more emphasis on fiscal rules to constrain spending--are explored here as case studies.","brand":"INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47155093733616,"sku":"9781452747972","price":12.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781452747972_p0.jpg?v=1763849726","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781452747972","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}