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Fiscal Rules and Macroeconomic Stability

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Author Info
Rafael Domenech () (International Economics Institute, University of Valencia)
Javier Andres

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Abstract

In this paper we analyze the impact of fiscal rules on the effectiveness of fiscal policy as a macroeconomic stabilizing instrument. First, we review the available evidence on the effects of fiscal policy to affect output in the short run and real interest rates and investment and growth in the long run, and we show how the use of fiscal rules has proved useful in restraining debt and deficits. Secondly, we discuss if debt consolidation rules trade off higher output instability in exchange for lower deficits, using three alternative representations of the intertemporal substitution mechanism in a SDGE framework. Our main conclusion is that both the impact of discretionary fiscal policy and the strength of automatic stabilizers are largely unaffected by the 'tightness' of these rules. Therefore, there is nothing in the design of fiscal rules aimed at preventing huge and long-lasting deviations of debt from the steady state level, which makes them an impediment to fiscal policy carrying out its job as a significant stabilizing policy instrument.

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File URL: http://iei.uv.es/docs/wp_internos/RePEc/pdf/iei_0501.pdf
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File Function: First version, 2005
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by International Economics Institute, University of Valencia in its series Working Papers with number 0501.

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Length: 36 pages
Date of creation: Apr 2005
Date of revision: Nov 2005
Handle: RePEc:iei:wpaper:0501

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Keywords: fiscal rules output volatility automatic stabilizers

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
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

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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. V. Anton Muscatelli & Tiziano Ropele & Patrizio Tirelli, 2004. "Fiscal and Monetary Policy Interactions in a New Keynesian Model with Liquidity Constraints," Working Papers 83, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised Nov 2004. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Anton Muscatelli & Patrizio Tirelli & Carmine Trecroci, 2004. "Can Fiscal Policy Help Macroeconomic Stabilisation? Evidence from a New Keynesian Model with Liquidity Constraints," CESifo Working Paper Series CESifo Working Paper No. , CESifo GmbH. [Downloadable!]
  3. V. Anton Muscatelli & Tiziano Ropele & Patrizio Tirelli, 2004. "Macroeconomic Adjustment in the Euro-area: The Role of Fiscal Policy," Working Papers 2005_20, Department of Economics, University of Glasgow, revised May 2005. [Downloadable!]
  4. Andrea Colciago & Anton Muscatelli & Tiziano Ropele & Patrizio Tirelli, 2006. "The Role of Fiscal Policy in a Monetary Union: Are National Automatic Stabilizers Effective?," CESifo Working Paper Series CESifo Working Paper No. , CESifo GmbH. [Downloadable!]
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