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Automatic stabilizers and economic crisis: US vs. Europe

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  • Dolls, Mathias
  • Fuest, Clemens
  • Peichl, Andreas

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the tax and transfer systems in the EU and the US to provide income insurance through automatic stabilization in the recent economic crisis. We find that automatic stabilizers absorb 38% of a proportional income shock in the EU, compared to 32% in the US. In the case of an unemployment shock 47% of the shock is absorbed in the EU, compared to 34% in the US. This cushioning of disposable income leads to a demand stabilization of up to 30% in the EU and up to 20% in the US. There is large heterogeneity within the EU. Automatic stabilizers in Eastern and Southern Europe are much lower than in Central and Northern European countries. We also investigate whether countries with weak automatic stabilizers have enacted larger fiscal stimulus programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Dolls, Mathias & Fuest, Clemens & Peichl, Andreas, 2012. "Automatic stabilizers and economic crisis: US vs. Europe," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(3), pages 279-294.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:96:y:2012:i:3:p:279-294
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2011.11.001
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Stabilization; Income insurance; Liquidity constraints; Fiscal stimulus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • 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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