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A modern approach to monetary and fiscal policy

Author

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  • Junior, Celso J. Costa
  • Garcia-Cintado, Alejandro C.
  • Junior, Karlo Marques

Abstract

This paper puts forth a systematic approach to teaching fiscal-monetary interactions that follows the view of one of the fathers of the Fiscal Theory of the Price Level (FTPL), Eric Leeper. The main advantage of this setup is its simplicity, which makes it particularly suited for undergraduates and non-specialists. It relies on a two-graph device to show that fiscal and monetary policies always get determined simultaneously and that their effects on the economy always depend on one another’s behavior. It is straightforward to see that in a conventional monetarist world (Regime M), the central bank succeeds in controling inflation so long as the fiscal authority does its job of ensuring that public debt does not grow too much. By contrast, in an alternative fiscal-dominant regime (Regime F), fiscal policy determines the price level (and inflation) in the short run, and the optimal monetary stance is holding the policy rate constant, since if the central bank otherwise tries to fight back fiscally determined inflation, it will worsen fiscal sustainability and increase future inflation.

Suggested Citation

  • Junior, Celso J. Costa & Garcia-Cintado, Alejandro C. & Junior, Karlo Marques, 2022. "A modern approach to monetary and fiscal policy," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ireced:v:39:y:2022:i:c:s1477388021000244
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iree.2021.100232
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beck-Friis, Peder & Willems, Tim, 2017. "Dissecting fiscal multipliers under the fiscal theory of the price level," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 62-83.
    2. Edouard Challe, 2019. "Macroeconomic fluctuations and policies," Sciences Po Economics Publications (main) hal-03232375, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hashimzade, Nigar & Kirsanov, Oleg & Kirsanova, Tatiana, 2025. "Integrating programming into the modern undergraduate economics curriculum," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • 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

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