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Fiscal consolidation strategy: An update for the budget reform proposal of march 2013

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  • Cogan, John F.
  • Taylor, John B.
  • Wieland, Volker
  • Wolters, Maik Hendrik

Abstract

Recently, we evaluated a fiscal consolidation strategy for the United States that would bring the government budget into balance by gradually reducing government spending relative to GDP to the ratio that prevailed prior to the crisis (Cogan et al, JEDC 2013). Specifically, we published an analysis of the macroeconomic consequences of the 2013 Budget Resolution that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2012. In this note, we provide an update of our research that evaluates this year’s budget reform proposal that is to be discussed and voted on in the House of Representative in March 2013. Contrary to the views voiced by critics of fiscal consolidation, we show that such a reduction in government purchases and transfer payments can increase GDP immediately and permanently relative to a policy without spending restraint. Our research makes use of a modern structural model of the economy that incorporates the long-standing essential features of economics: opportunity costs, efficiency, foresight and incentives. GDP rises because households take into account that spending restraint helps avoid future increases in tax rates. Lower taxes imply less distorted incentives for work, investment and production relative to a scenario without fiscal consolidation and lead to higher growth.

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  • Cogan, John F. & Taylor, John B. & Wieland, Volker & Wolters, Maik Hendrik, 2013. "Fiscal consolidation strategy: An update for the budget reform proposal of march 2013," IMFS Working Paper Series 68, Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Monetary and Financial Stability (IMFS).
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:imfswp:68
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Orphanides, Athanasios, 2014. "Are rules and boundaries sufficient to limit harmful central bank discretion? Lessons from Europe," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 121-125.
    2. Schwarzmüller, Tim & Wolters, Maik H., 2014. "The macroeconomic effects of fiscal consolidation in dynamic general equilibrium," Kiel Working Papers 1963, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    3. Wieland, Volker & Wolters, Maik, 2014. "Is there a threat of self-reinforcing deflation in the euro area? A view through the lens of the Phillips curve," Kiel Policy Brief 79, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    4. Burgert, Matthias & Schmidt, Sebastian, 2014. "Dealing with a liquidity trap when government debt matters: Optimal time-consistent monetary and fiscal policy," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 282-299.
    5. John B. Taylor, 2015. "Using Hybrid Macro-Econometric Models to Design and Evaluate Fiscal Consolidation Strategies," Economics Working Papers 15117, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
    6. Wieland, Volker & Lieberknecht, Philipp, 2019. "On the Macroeconomic and Fiscal Effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," CEPR Discussion Papers 13629, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Susanne Neheider & Ludger Schuknecht, 2013. "Wachstum und Konsolidierung: ein Gegensatz?: zur Diskussion um "Austeritätspolitik" und "Wachstumsfalle"," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 82(2), pages 25-37.

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