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Country Heterogeneity and the International Evidence on the Effects of Fiscal Policy

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  • Giavazzi, Francesco
  • Favero, Carlo A.
  • Perego, Jacopo

Abstract

This paper shows how the richer frequency and variety of fiscal policy shocks available in an international sample can be analyzed recognizing the heterogeneity that exists across different countries. The main conclusion of our empirical analysis is that the question 'what is the fiscal policy multiplier' is an ill-posed one. There is no unconditional fiscal policy multiplier. The effect of fiscal policy on output is different depending on the different debt dynamics, the different degree of openness and the different fiscal reaction functions across different countries. There are many fiscal multipliers and an average fiscal multiplier is of very little use to describe the effect of exogenous shifts in fiscal policy on output.

Suggested Citation

  • Giavazzi, Francesco & Favero, Carlo A. & Perego, Jacopo, 2011. "Country Heterogeneity and the International Evidence on the Effects of Fiscal Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 8517, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:8517
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal policy; Public debt; Government budget constraint; Global var models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General

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