IMF Fiscal Rules Dataset

Source details

A fiscal rule is defined as "a long-lasting constraint on fiscal policy through numerical limits on budgetary aggregates." The IMF Fiscal Rules dataset focuses on de-jure arrangements and not on the degree to which rules are effective or have been adhered to in practice.
The dataset documents the use and design of fiscal rules and "typically aim at correcting distorted incentives and containing pressures to overspend, particularly in good times, so as to ensure fiscal responsibility and debt sustainability."
Publication timing: "1985 - 2024" coverage; dataset reference date "September 2025."
The dataset is maintained by the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department and is an ongoing project; feedback may be sent to IMFFISCALRULES@imf.org.
Map disclaimer: "The boundaries, colors, denominations, and any other information shown on the maps do not imply, on the part of the International Monetary Fund, any judgment on the legal status of any territory or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries."

Temporal coverage: 1985 - 2024.
Cross-country coverage: 123 economies.
Institutional coverage: national and supranational fiscal rules; rules applying to the central or general government or the public sector.
Dataset focus: de-jure rule design features rather than de-facto compliance or effectiveness.

Four types of fiscal rules covered:
- Budget balance rules (BBR)
- Debt rules (DR)
- Expenditure rules (ER)
- Revenue rules (RR)
Rule characteristics and variables recorded include:
- Legal basis
- Coverage
- Escape clauses
- Correction mechanisms
- Stabilization properties
- A measure of compliance with fiscal rules
Supporting features documented:
- Presence of independent monitoring bodies
- Existence of fiscal responsibility laws

The criteria for inclusion as fiscal rules are listed in: Alonso, Virginia, Clara Arroyo, Ozlem Aydin, Vybhavi Balasundharam, Hamid R. Davoodi, Gabriel Hegab, W. Raphael Lam, Anh Nguyen, Natalia Salazar Ferro, Galen Sher, Alexandra Solovyeva, and Nino Tchelishvili. 2025. "Fiscal Rules at a Glance: An Update 1985-2024." International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC.
The dataset "builds on the previous 2015 and 2022 versions prepared by Lledó, Yoon, Fang, Mbaye, and Kim (2017), and Davoodi, Elger, Fotiou, Garcia-Macia, Lagerborg, Lam, and Pillai (2022)."
Editor's note: "Version 1.0 update on September 25, 2025."

The dataset is intended to provide systematic information on the use and design of fiscal rules across countries and time for analytical and policy purposes, focusing on de-jure designs and supporting institutional features.
It is an ongoing project; suggestions to enhance coverage are welcome via IMFFISCALRULES@imf.org.

Alonso, Virginia, Clara Arroyo, Ozlem Aydin, Vybhavi Balasundharam, Hamid R. Davoodi, Gabriel Hegab, W. Raphael Lam, Anh Nguyen, Natalia Salazar Ferro, Galen Sher, Alexandra Solovyeva, and Nino Tchelishvili. 2025. "Fiscal Rules Dataset: 1985-2024" International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC.