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Public Investment as a Fiscal Stimulus: Evidence from Japan’s Regional Spending During the 1990s

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  • Ms. Anita Tuladhar
  • Markus Bruckner

Abstract

How effective was public investment in stimulating the Japanese economy during the economic stagnation of the 1990s? Using a dataset of regional public investment spending, we find that investment multipliers were higher than for public consumption, although they were relatively low and declining over time. The paper also finds that the effectiveness of economic infrastructure investment, implemented mainly by the central government, is lower than that of social investment mostly undertaken by local governments. These results suggest that while public investment may yield higher output effects than other spending, its effectiveness depends upon its composition, the level of government implementation, and supply side factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ms. Anita Tuladhar & Markus Bruckner, 2010. "Public Investment as a Fiscal Stimulus: Evidence from Japan’s Regional Spending During the 1990s," IMF Working Papers 2010/110, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2010/110
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    1. Shun-ichiro Bessho, 2017. "A case study of central and local government finance in Japan," Chapters, in: Naoyuki Yoshino & Peter J. Morgan (ed.), Central and Local Government Relations in Asia, chapter 9, pages 306-332, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. El-Baz, Osama, 2014. "Is there a need for a Marshall plan in the Egyptian economy? An investigation of the fiscal stimulus package," MPRA Paper 69717, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Mar 2014.
    3. Shen, Wenyi & Yang, Shu-Chun S. & Zanna, Luis-Felipe, 2018. "Government spending effects in low-income countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 201-219.
    4. Yoshino, Naoyuki & Abidhadjaev, Umid, 2017. "An impact evaluation of investment in infrastructure: The case of a railway connection in Uzbekistan," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-11.
    5. Yoshito Funashima, 2012. "The effects of public investment smoothing as a stimulus measure on construction industry in Japan," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 32(3), pages 1992-2006.
    6. Tomomi Miyazaki, 2018. "Interactions between regional public and private investment: evidence from Japanese prefectures," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(1), pages 195-211, January.
    7. T. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan & D. Harshanee W. Jayasekera, 2012. "Transport Sector Driving Economic Activity in Sri Lanka: Opportunities and Challenges," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 13(2), pages 291-311, September.
    8. Shen, Wenyi & Yang, Shu-Chun S. & Zanna, Luis-Felipe, 2018. "Government spending effects in low-income countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 201-219.
    9. Funashima, Yoshito, 2014. "Macroeconomic policy coordination between Japanese central and local governments," MPRA Paper 59821, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Daniela PIRVU & Claudia STANCIU-TOLEA, 2019. "Public Investment Challenges And Reforms In Romania," Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences, University of Pitesti, vol. 18(3), pages 47-53.
    11. Luigi Bonatti, 2016. "Anemic economic growth in advanced economies: structural factors and the impotence of expansionary macroeconomic policies," DEM Working Papers 2016/11, Department of Economics and Management.
    12. Funashima, Yoshito & Horiba, Isao & Miyahara, Shoichi, 2015. "Local Government Investments and Ineffectiveness of Fiscal Stimulus during Japan's Lost Decades," MPRA Paper 61333, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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