-What does globalisation really mean? If we were to evaluate the concept of globalisation in terms of the frequency of its use we would conclude that it refers to a concrete and unquestionable reality. However, this conclusión is far from adequate.  Indeed, globalisation is a very controversial concept that has originated diverse political and academic debates. Held et al (1999), for example, in establishing a now classic trilateral typology, have distinguished between authors who assume an optimistic, sceptical or critical vision in order to understand and explain the potential impact of globalisation on the Nation-State, as well as other dimensions. Starting from this typology as a framework for analysis, this paper re-examines the specific debate on the impact of globalisation upon one of the more traditionally exclusive spheres of the nation-state: fiscal policies. It concludes that if regulated according to 'economic invariable laws',  far from being an inevitably  constraining phenomenon, globalisation is better understood if it is observed as an economic political process (historically determined), as insistently emphasized by classic political economy.