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Government size and automatic stabilizers: international and intranational evidence

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  • Fatas, Antonio
  • Mihov, Ilian

Abstract

This paper studies the role of automatic stabilizers using a sample of OECD countries and US states. We find that there is a strong and robust negative correlation between measures of government size and the volatility of output. This correlation is robust to the inclusion of a large set of controls as well as to alternative methods of detrending and estimation. The economic significance of this relationship is larger for the US states.
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Suggested Citation

  • Fatas, Antonio & Mihov, Ilian, 2001. "Government size and automatic stabilizers: international and intranational evidence," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 3-28, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:55:y:2001:i:1:p:3-28
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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