Abstract
The chapter looks at the peregrinations of fiscal-federalism studies across time, geography and disciplines, portraying the mainstream literature on the topic from past to present debates. In so doing it addresses the most intriguing issues and the emerging trends the research agenda has to cope with. Basic assumption is that the progresses of the literature reflect the advancements from a formal and minimalistic understanding of fiscal federalism to a more substantial, practice-oriented and interdisciplinary approach. As such, an expanded and comparative insight into the phenomenon and its causes brings about the need to face new challenges that put a strain on fiscal-federalism studies and entail new advances in the research agenda.