Macroeconomics vs Modern Money Theory: Some unpleasant Keynesian arithmetic

Thomas Palley

No PKWP1910, Working Papers from Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES)

Abstract: The last decade has witnessed a significant revival of belief in the efficacy of fiscal policy and mainstream economics is now reverting to the standard positions of mid-1970s Keynesianism. On the coattails of that revival, increased attention is being given to the doctrine of Modern Money Theory (MMT) which makes exaggerated claims about the economic costs and capability of money-financed fiscal policy. MMT proponents are now asserting society can enjoy a range of large government spending programs for free via money financed deficits, which has made it very popular with progressive policy advocates. This paper examines MMT’s assertion and rejects the claim that the US can enjoy a massive permanent free program spree that does not cause inflation. As has long been known by Keynesians, in a static economy money financed deficits can be used to finance programs when the economy is away from the full employment - inflation boundary. However, that window will be temporary to the extent that those deficits drive the economy to full employment. Since the programs are permanent they have to be paid for with taxes or they will generate inflation. That is the economic logic behind the unpleasant Keynesian arithmetic.

Keywords: Fiscal policy; budget deficits; money finance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E00 E12 E62 E63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 9
Date: 2019-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hpe, nep-mac, nep-mon and nep-pke
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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