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Are All Summary Indicators of the Stance of Fiscal Policy Misleading?

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  • G. A. Mackenzie

    (International Monetary Fund)

Abstract

Two recent criticisms of summary fiscal indicators are appraised: first, that they and the conventionally measured public sector balances from which they are derived are not sufficiently broadly defined; second, that they are meaningless because they do not reflect changes in the distribution of wealth between generations. The paper concludes that the defects of summary fiscal indicators have been exaggerated. It is not feasible to include all changes in public sector net worth in the deficit, and the existence of liquidity constraints and aversion to indebtedness imply that conventionally measured public sector deficits are not irrelevant.

Suggested Citation

  • G. A. Mackenzie, 1989. "Are All Summary Indicators of the Stance of Fiscal Policy Misleading?," IMF Staff Papers, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 36(4), pages 743-770, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:imfstp:v:36:y:1989:i:4:p:743-770
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    Cited by:

    1. Ndikumana, Leonce & Boyce, James K., 2003. "Public Debts and Private Assets: Explaining Capital Flight from Sub-Saharan African Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 107-130, January.
    2. van der Eng, Pierre, 1992. "Measuring fiscal stance for the United Kingdom, 1920-1990," MPRA Paper 38284, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Jul 2012.
    3. Fischer, Stanley, 1993. "The role of macroeconomic factors in growth," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 485-512, December.
    4. Alfonso ARPAIA & Alessandro TURRINI, 2008. "Government Expenditure and Economic Growth in the EU: Long-Run Tendencies and Short-Term Adjustment," EcoMod2008 23800006, EcoMod.
    5. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/3161 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Jérôme Creel & Henri Sterdyniak, 1995. "Les déficits publics en Europe," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03458224, HAL.
    7. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/2965 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Garabed Minassian, 2003. "Macroeconomic Policy: Rules versus Discretion," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 7, pages 3-25.
    9. Jérôme Creel & Henri Sterdyniak, 1995. "Les déficits publics en Europe. Causes, conséquences ou remèdes à la crise ?," Revue Économique, Programme National Persée, vol. 46(3), pages 645-656.
    10. Stanley Fischer, 1992. "Macroeconomic Stability and Growth," Latin American Journal of Economics-formerly Cuadernos de Economía, Instituto de Economía. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 29(87), pages 171-186.
    11. Martin Larch & Matteo Salto, 2005. "Fiscal rules, inertia and discretionary fiscal policy," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(10), pages 1135-1146.
    12. Signe Krogstrup, 2002. "Should We Pay Attention to Indicators of Fiscal Impact on Demand?," IHEID Working Papers 01-2002, Economics Section, The Graduate Institute of International Studies.

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