Fiscal rules are an idea that has been getting more attention lately due to the recent economic crisis. Fiscal rules has been tested for many properties, including countercyclical behavior. The present paper focuses on the Swiss fiscal rule and investigates the impact of a modified HP filter, used in the rule, on countercyclical behavior of the rule. The paper uses real GDP time series for over a hundred countries and applies the rule to each time series in two variants, with a standard HP filter and a modified HP filter. For each result procyclicality indices are calculated. It is found that the modification of HP filter, used in the Swiss fiscal rule, increases countercyclical behavior of the rule.
Procuring authorities frequently use screening in order to mitigate risky bids. This study estimates the effect of bid screening and litigation on entry and bidding using a unique data set on highway construction procurement auctions in Poland. The market exhibits a screening method that ex post selects eligible offers. We demonstrate with an empirical model that this method disproportionately affects small firms and creates a barrier to entry. Our results suggest that screening increases bids by two channels. First, it directly inflates bids as well as decreasing entry. Second, in a competitive market, lower entry also inflates bids and prices.
Procuring authorities frequently use screening in order to mitigate risky bids. This study estimates the effect of bid screening and litigation on entry and bidding using a unique data set on highway construction procurement auctions in Poland. The market exhibits a screening method that ex post selects eligible offers. We demonstrate with an empirical model that this method disproportionately affects small firms and creates a barrier to entry. Our results suggest that screening increases bids by two channels. First, it directly inflates bids as well as decreasing entry. Second, in a competitive market, lower entry also inflates bids and prices.
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