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Intergenerational policies, public debt, and economic growth: A politico-economic analysis

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  • Arai, Real
  • Naito, Katsuyuki
  • Ono, Tetsuo

Abstract

This study presents a two-period overlapping-generations model with endogenous growth. In each period, the government representing young and old generations provides a public good financed by labor income taxation and public debt issuance, and the government's policies are determined by probabilistic voting. Increased political power of the old lowers economic growth. A debt-ceiling rule is considered to resolve the negative growth effect, but it creates a trade-off between generations in terms of welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Arai, Real & Naito, Katsuyuki & Ono, Tetsuo, 2018. "Intergenerational policies, public debt, and economic growth: A politico-economic analysis," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 39-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:166:y:2018:i:c:p:39-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.08.006
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    3. Constantinos Challoumis, 2021. "Index of the Cycle of Money - The Case of Greece," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Kavala Campus, Greece, vol. 14(2), pages 58-67, September.
    4. Arawatari, Ryo & Ono, Tetsuo, 2021. "Public debt rule breaking by time-inconsistent voters," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    5. Falavigna, G. & Ippoliti, R., 2021. "Reform policy to increase the judicial efficiency in Italy: The opportunity offered by EU post-Covid funds," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 923-943.
    6. Yuki Uchida & Tetsuo Ono, 2024. "Generational Distribution of Fiscal Burdens: A Positive Analysis," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 65(1), pages 393-430, February.
    7. Dmytro Zhuravlov & Mykhailo Prokhorenko & Tamara Chernadchuk & Vitaliy Omelyanenko & Valentyna Shevchenko, 2021. "The impact of the public debt of a country on the sustainable development of entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 8(4), pages 654-667, June.
    8. Uchida, Yuki & Ono, Tetsuo, 2021. "Borrowing to finance public investment: a politico-economic analysis of fiscal rules," MPRA Paper 115844, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 31 Dec 2022.
    9. Maebayashi, Noritaka, 2023. "The pace of fiscal consolidations, fiscal sustainability, and welfare: An overlapping generations approach," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    10. Mohamed Ibrahim Mugableh, 2019. "Fiscal Policy Tools and Economic Growth in Jordan: Evidence from Time-Series Models," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, January.
    11. Pradhan , Rudra P. & Arvin, Mak B. & Nair , Mahendhiran & Hall , John H., 2022. "Public Debt, Economic Openness, And Sustainable Economic Growth in Europe: A Dynamic Panel Causal Analysis," Journal of Economic Development, The Economic Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, vol. 47(1), pages 167-183, March.
    12. Lopez-Velasco, Armando R., 2024. "Markov equilibrium of social security: An analytic solution under CRRA utility and the future of social security," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public debt; Probabilistic voting; Markov perfect equilibrium; Economic growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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