THE IMPACT OF FISCAL SPACE ON INDONESIA’S FISCAL BEHAVIOR

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of fiscal space on the probability that the government of Indonesia will be able to implement counter-cyclical fiscal behavior. We use ordinary least squares and probit methods to estimate the fiscal policy reaction function. This study confirms that increasing fiscal space can increase the probability of the government to execute its counter-cyclical behavior policy. A proposal to increase the space includes generating alternative sources of government revenues from taxes and non-taxes and redesigning subsidies toward selected targeting recipients to reduce the non-discretionary part of the government budget.