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Inflation and Public Debt Reversals in Advanced Economies

Author

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  • Ichiro Fukunaga
  • Mr. Takuji Komatsuzaki
  • Hideaki Matsuoka

Abstract

This paper quantitatively assesses the effects of inflation shocks on the public debt-to-GDP ratio in 19 advanced economies using simulation and estimation approaches. The simulations based on the debt dynamics equation and estimations of impulse responses by local projections both suggest that a 1 percentage point shock to inflation rate reduces the debt-to-GDP ratio by about 0.5 to 1 percentage points. The results also suggest that the impact is larger and more persistent when the debt maturity is longer, but the difference from the benchmark case is not significant. These results imply that modestly higher inflation, even if accompanied by some financial repression, could reduce public debt burden only marginally in many advanced economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ichiro Fukunaga & Mr. Takuji Komatsuzaki & Hideaki Matsuoka, 2019. "Inflation and Public Debt Reversals in Advanced Economies," IMF Working Papers 2019/297, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2019/297
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    3. Busato, Francesco & Varlese, Monica & Ulloa Severino, Claudia, 2022. "Public debt heterogeneity at country level: an empirical analysis," MPRA Paper 113812, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    5. Pratibha, S. & Sharma, Vishal & Krishna, M., 2024. "Nexus between total natural resource rents and public debt within symmetric and asymmetric framework: Fresh insight from resource-rich economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    6. Karsten Staehr & Olegs Tkacevs & Katri Urke, 2023. "Fiscal performance under inflation and inflation surprises: evidence from fiscal reaction functions for the Euro Area," Bank of Estonia Working Papers wp2023-3, Bank of Estonia, revised 20 Jun 2023.

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