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Falling real interest rates, rising debt: A free lunch?

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  • Rogoff, Kenneth

Abstract

Deep systemic financial crises tend to be infrequent events, as they leave deep lasting scars on the psyche of consumers, investors, politicians and regulators. Normally, especially given strengthened regulation and, one would not expect another systemic event for many decades. But the situation today is anything but normal. Record high global public and private debt combined with political paralysis and extraordinarily weak leadership outside central banks make today’s uncharacteristically fragile at this point in the debt supercycle.

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  • Rogoff, Kenneth, 2020. "Falling real interest rates, rising debt: A free lunch?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 778-790.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:42:y:2020:i:4:p:778-790
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2020.03.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carmen M. Reinhart & Franziska L. Ohnsorge & Kenneth S. Rogoff & M. Ayhan Kose, 2022. "The Aftermath of Debt Surges," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 637-663, August.
    2. Di Serio, Mario & Fragetta, Matteo & Melina, Giovanni, 2021. "The impact of r-g on Euro-Area government spending multipliers," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Ayushi Bajaj & Gaurav Datt, 2020. "Financing of fiscal response to COVID-19: a pragmatic alternative," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 149-160, November.
    4. Mindaugas Butkus & Diana Cibulskiene & Lina Garsviene & Janina Seputiene, 2022. "Role of Uncertainty in Debt-Growth Nexus," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2022(1), pages 58-78.
    5. Kenneth Rogoff, 2022. "Emerging Market Sovereign Debt in the Aftermath of the Pandemic," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 36(4), pages 147-166, Fall.
    6. Mawejje, Joseph & Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2022. "The determinants and cyclicality of fiscal policy: Empirical evidence from East Africa," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 55-70.
    7. Kozlov, Roman, 2021. "An age-structured model for the effect of interest rate changes on consumption," Discussion Papers 2021/8, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    8. Jussi Lindgren, 2021. "Examination of Interest-Growth Differentials and the Risk of Sovereign Insolvency," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, April.
    9. Debrun, Xavier & Masuch, Klaus & Ferrero, Guiseppe & Vansteenkiste, Isabel & Ferdinandusse, Marien & von Thadden, Leopold & Hauptmeier, Sebastian & Alloza, Mario & Derouen, Chloé & Bańkowski, Krzyszto, 2021. "Monetary-fiscal policy interactions in the euro area," Occasional Paper Series 273, European Central Bank.
    10. Roman Kozlov, 2023. "The Effect of Interest Rate Changes on Consumption: An Age-Structured Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-25, January.
    11. Andrian, Leandro Gaston & Valencia, Oscar & Hirs, Jorge & Urrea Rios, Ivan Leonardo, 2022. "Fiscal Rules and Economic Cycles: Quality (Always) Matters," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12639, Inter-American Development Bank.
    12. Rogoff, Kenneth, 2021. "Fiscal sustainability in the aftermath of the great pause," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 783-793.
    13. Heimberger, Philipp, 2023. "Public debt and r-g risks in advanced economies: Eurozone versus stand-alone," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    14. Philipp Heimberger, 2023. "Do Interest-growth Differentials Affect Fiscal Policy? Evidence for Advanced Economies," wiiw Working Papers 230, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.

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