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It’s Never Different: Fiscal Policy Shocks and Inflation

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  • Mr. Serhan Cevik
  • Fedor Miryugin

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of fiscal shocks on inflation, using a large panel of 139 countries over the period 1970–2021. First, both headline and core measures of inflation increase in response to expansionary shifts in the fiscal policy stance. Second, we split the sample and observe an intriguing pattern that fiscal policy shocks are primarily significant in developing countries. Third, the inflationary impact of fiscal policy shocks is dependent on fiscal space and economic conditions, as well as monetary policy type, exchange rate regimes and fiscal rules, at the time of the shock. We confirm these results by using the narrative approach and forecast errors, as well as cyclically- adjusted data on government revenues and non-interest expenditures, to identify exogenous changes in fiscal policy. The analysis has several important policy implications: (i) fiscal policy is a critical anchor of macroeconomic stability; (ii) fiscal policy should be used with care in aggregate demand management as it has significant effects on inflation, which are highly dependent on fiscal space and economic conditions; and (iii) flexible exchange rates and rule-based policymaking provide greater resilience to inflationary shocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Serhan Cevik & Fedor Miryugin, 2023. "It’s Never Different: Fiscal Policy Shocks and Inflation," IMF Working Papers 2023/098, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2023/098
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    Cited by:

    1. Checherita-Westphal, Cristina & Pesso, Tom, 2024. "Fiscal policy and inflation: accounting for non-linearities in government debt," Working Paper Series 2996, European Central Bank.
    2. António Afonso & José Alves & Olegs Matvejevs & Olegs Tkacevs, 2023. "Fiscal Sustainability and the Role of Inflation," Working Papers REM 2023/0303, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    3. Beirne, John & Renzhi, Nuobu, 2024. "Debt shocks and the dynamics of output and inflation in emerging economies," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation; fiscal policy; public debt; output gap; local projections; fiscal policy shock; fiscal policy stance; monetary policy type; core CPI; inflation targeting policy; Fiscal stance; Fiscal space; Exchange rate arrangements; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • 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
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General

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