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A Temporary VAT Cut as Unconventional Fiscal Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Ruediger Bachmann
  • Benjamin Born
  • Olga Goldfayn-Frank
  • Georgi Kocharkov
  • Ralph Luetticke
  • Michael Weber
  • Michael Weber

Abstract

We exploit the unexpected announcement of an immediate, temporary VAT cut in Germany in the second half of 2020 as a natural experiment to study the spending response to unconventional fiscal policy. We use survey and scanner data on households’ consumption expenditures and their perceived pass-through of the tax change into prices to quantify its effects. The temporary VAT cut led to a substantial relative increase in durable spending of 36% for individuals with a high perceived pass-through. Semi- and non-durable spending also increased. According to our preferred estimates, the VAT policy increased aggregate consumption spending by 34 billion Euros.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruediger Bachmann & Benjamin Born & Olga Goldfayn-Frank & Georgi Kocharkov & Ralph Luetticke & Michael Weber & Michael Weber, 2021. "A Temporary VAT Cut as Unconventional Fiscal Policy," CESifo Working Paper Series 9399, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9399
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household

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