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Does Stability and Growth Pact Provide an Adequate and Consistent Fiscal Rule?

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  • Mauro Visaggio

    (Università di Perugia)

Abstract

This paper examines the adequacy and the consistency of the fiscal rule set by the Treaty of Maastricht and the Stability and Growth Pact. First, it shows that the functional fiscal rule is adequate in ensuring the final goal of public debt sustainability. Second, it points out that the draw of an arbitrary numerical value is indifferent to reach the final goal even if produces different intergenerational distribution of public debt burden. Finally, it shows that the updated numerical fiscal rule of Stability and Growth Pact removes the inconsistency of the previous numerical fiscal rule – arising for a given set of value of GDP – embodied in the Treaty of Maastricht but at the same time it implies that in the long period public debt has to be retired entirely and consequently imposes a heavy burden on generations living at the time of fiscal adjustment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauro Visaggio, 2004. "Does Stability and Growth Pact Provide an Adequate and Consistent Fiscal Rule?," Macroeconomics 0407008, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpma:0407008
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    Cited by:

    1. Damiani, Mirella & Pompei, Fabrizio & Ricci, Andrea, 2011. "Temporary job protection and productivity growth in EU economies," MPRA Paper 29698, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Paolo Biraschi, "undated". "Searching for the optimal EMU fiscal rule:an ex-post analysis of the SGP reform proposals," Working Papers wp2008-7, Department of the Treasury, Ministry of the Economy and of Finance.
    3. Silvia Micheli, 2010. "Learning Curve and Wind Power," Quaderni del Dipartimento di Economia, Finanza e Statistica 81/2010, Università di Perugia, Dipartimento Economia.
    4. Francesco Venturini, 2011. "Product variety, product quality, and evidence of Schumpeterian endogenous growth: a note," Quaderni del Dipartimento di Economia, Finanza e Statistica 93/2011, Università di Perugia, Dipartimento Economia.
    5. Stefano Herzel & Marco Nicolosi & Cătălin Stărică, 2012. "The cost of sustainability in optimal portfolio decisions," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3-4), pages 333-349, May.
    6. Mirella Damiani, 2010. "Labour regulation, corporate governance and varieties of capitalism," Quaderni del Dipartimento di Economia, Finanza e Statistica 76/2010, Università di Perugia, Dipartimento Economia.
    7. Davide Castellani & Fabio Pieri, 2011. "Foreign Investments and Productivity Evidence from European Regions," Quaderni del Dipartimento di Economia, Finanza e Statistica 83/2011, Università di Perugia, Dipartimento Economia.

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    JEL classification:

    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • 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
    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration

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