Initiatives, referendums, and the tax state

Abstract

This article examines the impact of different forms of direct democracy on the tax state in the Swiss cantons in economically difficult times, i.e. between 1990 and 2000. The analysis distinguishes between the fiscal referendum and the popular initiative, since theoretical arguments suggest that these two instruments of direct citizen participation have contrary effects on the tax state. Specifically, the fiscal referendum is expected to act as a brake on tax interventionism, the popular initiative rather as an accelerator. However, pooled time-series analyses show that the initiative has no bearing on the tax state. What counts is the extent to which citizens are granted the right of fiscal referendum. More precisely, of all the different features of direct citizen participation in fiscal matters, the mandatory referendum turns out to be the most essential.