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Die Modern Monetary Theory: Staatsschulden als Steuergutschriften

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  • Dirk Ehnts
  • Michael Paetz

Abstract

Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) is an empirical monetary theory and makes special use of balance sheets and booking entries as the methodological foundation of scientific progress. Regarding the functional design of modern monetary systems, in which the government has no debts in foreign currency nor guarantees a fixed exchange rate, modern money is essentially a tax credit. This is credited by the central bank as monopolist of the currency to the participating banks when, for example, the government increases spending. This means that the government has a fundamental role to play in the economy. Full employment, price stability and sustainable resource management are unlikely to be achieved without a theory of fiscal governance. Some reform proposals targeting the public purpose, such as the Green New Deal or the Euro Treasury, are based on MMT and could easily be implemented in the Eurozone. Die Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) ist eine empirische Geldtheorie und nutzt insbesondere Bilanzen und Buchungen als methodische Grundlage zur Erkenntnisgewinnung. Nach der funktionalen Ausgestaltung moderner Geldsysteme, in denen die Regierung keine Schulden in Auslandswährung hat oder einen festen Wechselkurs garantiert, handelt es sich bei modernem Geld im Grunde genommen um Steuergutschriften. Diese werden durch die Zentralbank als Monopolistin der Währung den teilnehmenden Banken gutgeschrieben, wenn z. B. die Regierung ihre Ausgaben erhöht. Damit fällt der Regierung eine fundamentale Rolle in der Wirtschaft zu. Vollbeschäftigung, Preisstabilität und nachhaltige Ressourcenbewirtschaftung sind ohne eine Theorie der fiskalpolitischen Steuerung wohl nicht zu erreichen. Einige Reformvorschläge mit dem Ziel der Erhöhung des Gemeinwohls, wie der Green New Deal oder das Euro Treasury, basieren auf MMT und könnten sich auch in der Eurozone relativ einfach umsetzen lassen.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Ehnts & Michael Paetz, 2019. "Die Modern Monetary Theory: Staatsschulden als Steuergutschriften," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 88(4), pages 77-89.
  • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:88-4-7
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.88.4.77
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    Cited by:

    1. Dirk Ehnts & Michael Paetz, 2021. "COVID-19 and its economic consequences for the Euro Area," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(2), pages 227-249, June.
    2. Dirk Ehnts & Michael Paetz, 2021. "Wie finanzieren wir die Corona-Schulden? [How Do We Finance the Corona Debt? Attempting a “Right” Answer to the “Wrong” Question from the Perspective of Modern Monetary Theory]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 101(3), pages 200-206, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public debt; public deficit; tax credit; Chartalism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory

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