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Towards Expenditure Rules and Fiscal Sanity in the Euro Area

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  • Schuknecht, Ludger
  • Hauptmeier, Sebastian
  • Sanchez Fuéntes, Jésus

Abstract

The study looks at primary expenditure developments in the euro area, its three largest members and four “macro-imbalances” countries for the period 1999- 2009. It compares actual expenditure trends with those that would have prevailed if countries had followed neutral policies based on expenditure rules since the start of EMU. It also calculates the implications for debt trends. It finds that, all sample countries except Germany applied expansionary expenditure policies. This resulted in much higher expenditure and debt paths compared to a counterfactual neutral expenditure stance. Simple and prudent rules-based spending policies could have led to much safer fiscal positions much more in line with the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact rules.

Suggested Citation

  • Schuknecht, Ludger & Hauptmeier, Sebastian & Sanchez Fuéntes, Jésus, 2011. "Towards Expenditure Rules and Fiscal Sanity in the Euro Area," VfS Annual Conference 2011 (Frankfurt, Main): The Order of the World Economy - Lessons from the Crisis 48693, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc11:48693
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Expenditure policies; public debt; expenditure rules; sustainability; fiscal stance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A10 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - General
    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • B22 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Macroeconomics

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