Research Insights: When Fiscal Adjustments Must Be Made, Do Voters Care Which Policy Is Used?

Fiscal adjustments, aimed at resolving imbalances that can lead to an economic crisis, have a high political cost in Latin America and the Caribbean. Fiscal consolidations in the region generally focuses on raising indirect taxes, such as the value added tax (VAT), which are relatively easy to collect. Experimental evidence, however, indicates that citizens would prefer to reduce public spending rather than increase taxes. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean must invest in fiscal tools that give them more room to maneuver in times of economic crisis and thus reduce negative impacts on electoral results.