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Fiscal deficits, economic growth and government debt in the USA

Author

Listed:
  • Lance Taylor
  • Christian R. Proaño
  • Laura de Carvalho
  • Nelson Barbosa

Abstract

A simple model illustrates interactions between the 'primary' fiscal deficit (total deficit minus interest payments), economic growth and debt. The deficit/income ratio responds countercyclically to growth while growth may respond positively (a 'Keynes' case) or negatively (à la 'Merkel') to the deficit. The recent Great Recession in the USA was atypical in that there was a weak countercyclical fiscal response. The increase in government net borrowing was significantly less than the decrease in private borrowing--an historically unprecedented asymmetry. Econometric estimates verify the historical pattern and further suggest that there is a strong positive effect on growth of a higher primary deficit, even when possible increases in the interest rate are taken into account. Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Cambridge Political Economy Society. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Lance Taylor & Christian R. Proaño & Laura de Carvalho & Nelson Barbosa, 2012. "Fiscal deficits, economic growth and government debt in the USA," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 36(1), pages 189-204.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:36:y:2012:i:1:p:189-204
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/ber041
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