The fiscal management of the state of Rio de Janeiro: An analysis in light of the fiscal responsibility law and debt sustainability in the period from 2001 to 2017

Abstract The aim of this research is to verify the role of the fiscal responsibility law (FRL) in the dynamics of the fiscal management of Rio de Janeiro, and in the sustainability of the state’s public debt in the period from 2001 to 2017. It was observed that Legislation limits were extrapolated, and concomitantly, the decrease in GDP, the rise in interest rates and the continuous primary deficits from 2012, triggered a serious mismatch of public accounts. It is concluded that, although the FRL played a disciplinary role in the management of the state of Rio de Janeiro’s finances until mid-2012, the legislation did not limit the mismanagement of resources and was not enough to avoid the fiscal unsustainability installed in the state from 2014.