Rethinking the UK fiscal framework: lessons from elsewhere

The UK fiscal framework, especially the fiscal rules in place, has faced widespread criticism. Since the current system was introduced, the UK’s fiscal arithmetic has worsened. The article examines practices in other countries and, going beyond rules, looks at other dimensions of their fiscal frameworks, then suggests a ‘menu’ of possible changes to improve the UK approach. Scrutiny and a variety of governance features also deserve attention. While not all practices elsewhere can be directly adopted in the UK institutional setting and some would encounter political sensitivities, many can.