ABSTRACT
The analytical framework of both the economics and politics of fiscal consolidation follows the conceptual cause-action-effect scheme outlined. The fiscal consolidation measures taken by European governments to address their domestic fiscal crises were described and analysed in the country studies for the COCOPS seventh work package. The COCOPS country case studies, which are analysed finally, show that Estonia general elections in the investigated countries were lost by the incumbent government. Whether the current crisis triggers larger Public Administration reforms or not, it is likely to cause changes in public management practices because of the need to adapt to changes both in the internal and the external environment. It aims to explore if the fiscal crisis that has triggered administrative reforms and identify particular reform trends and shifts in public management patterns during the fiscal crisis. Also distinguishes between three types of explanatory factors in analysing consolidation measures and decision-making during the fiscal crisis: financial-economic factors, political-administrative factors and supra-national influences.
