Finanzwissenschaft

Finanzwissenschaft, in the German-speaking scholarly tradition, denotes the science of public finance. It analyzes how governments raise and spend resources, and how budgetary and fiscal policy influence the economy and society. The discipline covers the design of revenue systems (taxation, fees, and charges), public expenditure programs, and the management of public debt, as well as questions of how resources are allocated between levels of government and how fiscal decisions affect distribution and growth.

Core subfields include tax theory (Steuerlehre) and expenditure theory, budgeting and budget processes (Haushaltslehre), public debt and fiscal policy, and fiscal federalism with intergovernmental transfers. The normative aims emphasize efficiency, equity, macroeconomic stability, and sustainability of public finances, all within the constraints of constitutional law, budget rules, and administrative capacity.

Methodologically, Finanzwissenschaft combines economic theory with empirical analysis and policy evaluation. It studies both micro-level effects on households and firms and macro-level fiscal aggregates, and it relies on budgeting standards, accounting practices, and performance measurement to assess outcomes and inform reform proposals.

Relation to other disciplines: it is closely linked to public economics, political science, and public administration. In German-speaking universities it is taught as a distinct field of study, sometimes under the label Finanzwissenschaftslehre. It also engages in comparative analyses of fiscal systems and fiscal constitutions.

Applications and relevance: analysis and design of tax policy, evaluation of subsidies and public programs, intergovernmental fiscal arrangements, debt management, and improvements in transparency and accountability in budgeting and public choice.