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Optimal Versus Actual Maturity of Government Debt: The Case of Greece

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  • Basil Dalamagas

    (National & Kapodistrian University of Athens)

  • Stefanos Tantos

    (National & Kapodistrian University of Athens)

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to examine theoretically and empirically how the maturity structure of government debt is affected by changes in its main macroeconomic determining factors. We organize our investigation around a maturity-structure model for Greece in which the optimal (annual) average maturity of a total of outstanding government bonds of different maturities is estimated over a thirty-year period. The optimal maturity level is then compared with the corresponding observed or actual level. We then use our empirical estimates to determine the response of optimal maturity to changes in its main determinants and make suggestions for corrective fiscal policy actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Basil Dalamagas & Stefanos Tantos, 2016. "Optimal Versus Actual Maturity of Government Debt: The Case of Greece," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 66(3), pages 25-52, July-Sept.
    • Handle: RePEc:spd:journl:v:66:y:2016:i:3:p:25-52
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    public debt; Greece; maturity; deficit; growth rate; interest rate;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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