This book offers comparative in-depth knowledge of political struggles related to fiscal consolidation policies in eleven federal states since the 1990s, including the Global Financial Crisis and its aftermath. It identifies conditions that lead to "robust" solutions that can both commit federal actors to prudent fiscal policy-making and avoid conflicts between federal actors that cause federal instability.

Dietmar Braun is Professor of Comparative Political Science at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Historiques et Internationales of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Christian Ruiz-Palmero is a PhD Candidate at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Historiques et Internationales of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Johanna Schnabel is a PhD Candidate at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Historiques et Internationales of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Part I

1. Introduction

2. Concepts

Part II: Introduction to Case Studies

3. Canada

4. Switzerland

5. USA

6. Australia

7. Germany

8. Austria

9. Belgium

10. Spain

11. Argentina

12. Brazil

13. India

Part III

14. Comparative Insights and Theoretical Observations