The objective of this paper is to derive the characteristics of an effective governance framework ensuring incentives for conducting a prudent fiscal policy.We study this problem with the use of econometric tools and a sample of 28 European Union Member States between 2003 and 2017. By looking at specific reforms and measures, not only we verify the synthetic effectiveness of fiscal constraints but also we analyse specific elements of the governance framework.Our study shows that fiscal balances are affected not only by the economic cycle, but, among others, by the level of public debt and its cost. We find that the existence of numerical fiscal rules, in that specifically revenue and expenditures rules, their strong legal entrenchment, surveillance mechanisms, sanctions, and flexibility with respect to business cycle have a significant impact on curbing deficits.

The physical properties determining the strength parameters of bituminous mixtures are strongly influenced by the processes of placement and compaction. The effectiveness of this process depends on the compactive effort and is directly related to the mixture temperature. This research focused on the assessment of compactibility of mixtures designed for reflective crack relief interlayers (RCRI) which, in most cases, are applied in thin layers. The materials analysed for compactibility in this research included AC – asphalt concrete, AC AF – asphalt concrete “anti-fatigue”, SMA – stone mastic asphalt and SMA-MA – stone mastic asphalt rich in bitumen mastic. The gyratory compactor method was used to determine the compaction slope K, the locking point LP and the compaction densification index CDI. All the tested mixtures were fine-graded, i.e., contained grains up to 8 mm in diameter, each mixed with a different type of bituminous binder. The values of CDI show a substantially greater input of energy required for compaction of high-polymer modified mixtures, as compared to mixtures of the same design, yet containing the 50/70 bitumen. Locking point analysis showed that SMA and SMA-MA mixtures attain 98% relative compaction before reaching the locking point at which the aggregate skeleton starts to resist further compaction. This is quite the opposite as with the AC and AC AF mixtures. Among the tested mixtures the best compaction behaviour was observed in the case of SMA-MA 8 50/70, and this over a wide range of working temperature (100–160C°) and pressures (150 kPa, 600 kPa). The design of the mixture SMA-MA as an anti-fatigue layer assumes an increase in the content of filler and binder, as compared to conventional SMA. This composition is bound to reduce the resistance to compaction, i.e., provide a better compaction behaviour as compared to a conventional SMA mixture.