Weak states and steady states: the dynamics of fiscal capacity

Investments in fiscal capacity — economic institutions for tax compliance — are an important feature of economic development. This paper develops a dynamic model to study such investments and their evolution over time. We contrast a social planner’s investment path with paths where political constraints are important. Three types of states emerge in the long run: (1) a common-interest state where public resources are devoted to public goods, (2) a redistributive state where additional fiscal capacity is used for transfers, and (3) a weak state with no transfers and a low level of public goods provision. The paper characterizes the conditions under which each possibility emerges and comparative statics wihin each regime.