The output effect of fiscal consolidations

Alberto F Alesina, Carlo Favero () and Francesco Giavazzi

No 9105, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper studies whether fiscal corrections cause large output losses. We find that it matters crucially how the fiscal correction occurs. Adjustments based upon spending cuts are much less costly in terms of output losses than tax-based ones. Spending-based adjustments have been associated with mild and short-lived recessions, in many cases with no recession at all. Tax-based adjustments have been associated with prolonged and deep recessions. The difference cannot be explained by different monetary policies during the two types of adjustments. Studying the effects of multi-year fiscal plans rather than individual shifts in fiscal variables we make progress on question of anticipated versus unanticipated policy shifts: we find that the correlation between unanticipated and anticipated shifts in taxes and spending is heterogenous across countries, suggesting that the degree of persistence of fiscal corrections varies..Estimating the effects of fiscal plans, rather than individual fiscal shocks, we obtain much more precise estimates of tax and spending multipliers.

Keywords: confidence; fiscal adjustment; investment; output (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E62 H60 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mac and nep-pbe
Date: 2012-08
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Related works:
Working Paper: The output effect of fiscal consolidations (2013)
Working Paper: The output effect of fiscal consolidations (2012)
Working Paper: The Output Effect of Fiscal Consolidations (2012)
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