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Making the Stability Pact More Flexible: Does It Lead to Pro-Cyclical Fiscal Policies?

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  • Michal Mackiewicz

Abstract

One of the often-discussed negative aspects of the Stability and Growth Pact is the rigidity of its deficit rule. Several reform proposals aim currently to alleviate the rule in order to allow the automatic stabilisers to operate freely. However, such a reform is likely to cause even further deterioration of fiscal balances in the EMU member countries. The empirical evidence presented in this paper shows that, in the past, increasing the structural deficit had a strong negative impact on the degree of anti-cyclical fiscal stabilisation. This suggests that the reform of the Pact, through higher structural deficits, could decrease rather than increase the scope of anti-cyclical fiscal actions in the EMU member countries. Copyright 2007 Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Michal Mackiewicz, 2007. "Making the Stability Pact More Flexible: Does It Lead to Pro-Cyclical Fiscal Policies?," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 28(2), pages 251-268, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:fistud:v:28:y:2007:i:2:p:251-268
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    1. Wirginia Doryñ & Micha³ Mackiewicz & Dorota Wawrzyniak, 2018. "The Role of Institutions in Determining the Cyclical Behavior of Fiscal Policy," Lodz Economics Working Papers 2/2018, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology.
    2. Patroklos Patsoulis & Marios Psychalis & Georgios A. Deirmentzoglou, 2022. "Stability and Growth Pact: Too Young to Die, Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, December.

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