Balanced-Budget Rules: Welfare Loss and Optimal Policies
Abstract
Most economic models do not suggest an optimal fiscal policy in which the government's budget is balanced each period. Conventional wisdom suggests that the government run surpluses and deficits to smooth taxes. In this paper, I use an approach which brings together real business cycle theory and the theory of public finance to evaluate the effects of a balanced-budget restriction. Four fiscal policies are investigated in a model with growth. All models are solved numerically using a multidimensional collocation parameterized expectations algorithm. The welfare consequences of each policy are measured, and the optimal Ramsey policies are characterized. (Copyright: Elsevier)Download Info
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Bibliographic Info
Article provided by Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics in its journal Review of Economic Dynamics.
Volume (Year): 4 (2001)
Issue (Month): 2 (July)
Pages: 438-459
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Related research
Keywords: Ramsey equilibrium; real business cycle theory; balanced-budget rules;Find related papers by JEL classification:
- E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy
References
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"Optimal Fiscal and Monetary Policy in an Economy Without Capital,"
Discussion Papers
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