Conference Agenda
Overview and details of the sessions of this conference.
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Some information on the session logistics:
If not stated otherwise, the discussant is the following speaker, with the first speaker being the discussant of the last paper. The last speaker of each session is the session chair. (Exception: invited sessions)
Presenters should speak for no more than 20 minutes, and discussants should limit their remarks to no more than 5 minutes. The remaining time should be reserved for audience questions and the presenter’s responses. We suggest following these guidelines also in the (less common) 3-paper sessions in a 2-hour slot, to allow participants to move between sessions. Discussants are encouraged to avoid summarizing the paper. By focusing on a few questions and comments, the discussants can help start a broader discussion with the audience.
Only registered participants can attend this conference. Further information available on the congress website https://www.iseg.ulisboa.pt/en/event/iipf/ .
Venue address: ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics & Management, R. Francesinhas 21, 1200-675 Lisboa, Portugal
Please note that all times are shown in the time zone of the conference. The current conference time is: 17th Sept 2026, 11:40:00am WEST
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Daily Overview |
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E04: Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations and Equalisation Location: Room 104 (Francesinhas 1) | |
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Equalising Municipal Resources in Federal Systems: Comparing Belgian, German and Australian Models ULB (Free University of Brussels), Belgium In the context of the financing difficulties of municipalities, this presentation analyses how federal states organise fiscal equalisation mechanisms aimed at supporting municipalities with lower fiscal capacity or higher expenditure needs. It adopts a comparative perspective, examining the Belgian, German, and Australian models of municipal equalisation. While all three systems grant autonomy to federated entities in redistributing resources among municipalities, they differ markedly in the way equalisation is financed at the federal level. In Belgium, a federal grant to the regions is allocated based on their contribution to personal income tax, an indicator at odds with redistribution. Germany relies on a Länder equalisation scheme that partially incorporates municipal fiscal capacity, whereas Australia operates a specific federal grant allocated according to detailed criteria reflecting fiscal capacity and needs. This comparison raises the broader question of how responsibility for municipal equalisation should be allocated across levels of government in federal systems.
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