‘Legge di Wagner’ e spesa pubblica disaggregata: un approccio VAR

Wagner’s Law is the first model of public expenditure in the history of public finance. The aim of this article is to assess its empirical evidence in Italy for the period 1960-2008 at a disaggregate level, with a var approach. After a brief introduction and a survey of the economic literature on this issue the specifications of Wagner’s Law for some specific public expenditures are estimated. Wagner’s original specification is also estimated. Some notes on the long-term relation between public spending and national income conclude the paper.