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The Myth of Expansionary Fiscal Austerity

Author

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  • Dean Baker

Abstract

Recently governments, economists, and international financial institutions have been debating the merits of further fiscal stimulus to combat the Great Recession versus fiscal austerity or “adjustment” – that is, higher taxes and/or lower government spending – to combat budget deficits. Some supporters of austerity have gone as far as arguing that fiscal adjustment could restore economic growth. These analyses are being touted to oppose increased stimulus to boost the economy. This paper examines the arguments for austerity and emonstrates that current economic conditions in the United States do not support the case for fiscal adjustment.

Suggested Citation

  • Dean Baker, 2010. "The Myth of Expansionary Fiscal Austerity," CEPR Reports and Issue Briefs 2010-23, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).
    • Handle: RePEc:epo:papers:2010-23
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    File URL: http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/austerity-myth-2010-10.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mark Weisbrot & Rebecca Ray, 2011. "The Scorecard on Development, 1960-2010: Closing the Gap?," CEPR Reports and Issue Briefs 2011-09, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).
    2. Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2013. "Stable Growth in an Era of Crises; Learning from Economic Theory and History," Ekonomi-tek - International Economics Journal, Turkish Economic Association, vol. 2(1), pages 1-39, January.
    3. Adama Diaw & Mamadou Diop, 2015. "Bilan de la dévaluation du Franc CFA et du Pacte de convergence dans l’UEMOA," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes 1 & University of Caen) 201505, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes 1, University of Caen and CNRS.
    4. Stiglitz, Joseph E., 2016. "America's Great Malaise and what to do about it," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 639-648.
    5. Philip Arestis, 2012. "Fiscal policy: a strong macroeconomic role," Review of Keynesian Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 1(0), pages 93-108.
    6. Čekanavičius Linas, 2018. "On the Choice of Fiscal Adjustment to Financial Crises: Expansionary vs. Contractionary Policies," Ekonomika (Economics), Sciendo, vol. 97(2), pages 7-17, December.
    7. Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2015. "Reconstructing Macroeconomic Theory to Manage Economic Policy," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Éloi Laurent & Jacques Cacheux (ed.), Fruitful Economics, chapter 1, pages 20-56, Palgrave Macmillan.
    8. Stiglitz, J.E., 2016. "An agenda for sustainable and inclusive growth for emerging markets," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 693-710.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    budget deficit; deficit; fiscal austerity; stimulus; unemployment; deficit spending;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • E60 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General
    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy
    • E64 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Incomes Policy; Price Policy
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
    • E66 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General Outlook and Conditions
    • H - Public Economics
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies
    • H6 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General
    • H61 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Budget; Budget Systems
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • H68 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Forecasts of Budgets, Deficits, and Debt

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