Optimal Time-Consistent Monetary, Fiscal and Debt Maturity Policy

Eric Leeper, Campbell Leith and Ding Liu ()

Journal of Monetary Economics, 2021, vol. 117, issue C, 600-617

Abstract: The textbook optimal policy response to an increase in government debt is simple—monetary policy should actively target inflation, and fiscal policy should smooth taxes while ensuring debt sustainability. Such policy prescriptions presuppose an ability to commit. Without that ability, the temptation to use inflation surprises to offset monopoly and tax distortions, as well as to reduce the real value of government debt, creates a state-dependent inflationary bias problem. High debt levels and short-term debt exacerbate the inflation bias. But this produces a debt stabilization bias because the policy maker wishes to deviate from the tax smoothing policies typically pursued under commitment, by returning government debt to steady-state. As a result, the response to shocks in New Keynesian models can be radically different, particularly when government debt levels are high and maturity short.

Keywords: New Keynesian Model; Government Debt; Monetary Policy; Fiscal Policy; Time Consistency Policy; Maturity Structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E62 E63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Optimal Time-Consistent Monetary, Fiscal and Debt Maturity Policy (2019)
Working Paper: Optimal Time-Consistent Monetary, Fiscal and Debt Maturity Policy (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:moneco:v:117:y:2021:i:c:p:600-617

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoneco.2020.03.015

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